Sherman & Linda Stoker

Sherman and Linda Stoker, married for more than 63 years, passed away recently just five days apart. They met and fell in love at Fayette County High School in Fayette, Alabama around 1956 and married in 1958. They moved to Hendersonville in 1973 with their only son, Sherman Dall Stoker, who was 10 years old at the time, and proceeded to create and enjoy the home they loved. Together they enjoyed Crimson Tide football, family get-togethers both near and far, neighbors, and mutual friends. They lost their beloved son, Dall, in April 2019,

Linda Ann White Stoker was born in Fayette County, Alabama, on July 17, 1939, and died on September 8, 2021, at age 82 She was preceded in death by her son Sherman Dall Stoker; her parents, Conley L. and Lucille Powell White; and two older brothers, Glen White and Kent White. She is survived by nephews, Mike White, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Dennis White of Winfield, Alabama, and niece Susie White of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Linda, a "city" girl, was a devoted mother and wife and took great pride in keeping the home fires burning. She collected recipes and became a great self-taught cook. She stayed in touch with her extended family and many friends in Alabama with cards and letters, and with her upbeat, chatty phone calls. Her favorite vacation spot was her hometown of Fayette and she cherished every detail of her high school reunions. In Hendersonville, Linda enjoyed frequent coffee klatches and luncheons with her friends, and avidly collected Barbie dolls, which she gifted to her grandnieces.

Linda was very outgoing and loved people. She was peace-loving and a real blessing to the feisty Stokers. All the same, she could stand her ground when she felt it was needed. One of her favorite sayings was "I am an American and I know my American rights." She would like this memorial and would want her friends to know that the reminiscences that included them brought the biggest smiles to her face in her final days.

Sherman Wesley Stoker, a farm boy, was born at the home of his maternal grandparents in Walker County, Alabama, on December 20, 1938. He died on September 13, 2021, at age 83. He was preceded in death by his wife Linda; son Dall; and parents, Henry Otha Stoker and Ivalene Colley Stoker, both of Fayette County, Alabama. He was survived by his sister, Othal Stoker DeShazo and brother-in-law James Edward DeShazo of DeBary, Florida; nephew James Wesley DeShazo of Lake Helen, Florida; niece Sera DeShazo Martino of DeBary, Florida; and four grandnieces and grandnephews: Braden and Andi Rothwell of Maryland and Hannah and Ryder DeShazo of Florida.

Sherman rode his first motorcycle at age 16, which gave birth to a lifelong passion for open roads and Harleys. Many of his friendships were formed while engaged in this pastime. He was a proud member of the Teamsters Union and spent most of his work life as a driver for RodeWay, which satisfied his desire to always see what was over the hill and around the next bend. He loved hunting, boating and fishing and even went on a fox hunt or two with his grandfather, which earned him the coveted Colley fox hunting horn used to call in the dogs.

Perhaps not known to many, Sherman was an American history buff with an amazing recall of the details of historical battles and the men who waged them.  He was a U.S. Army vet, joining the reserves at the age of 17 and seeing one active-duty deployment. Sherman was a very private man and would probably object to what he would see as the revealing detail of this obituary.

It is with pride, sorrow and great love that the family says goodbye for now to Sherman and Linda and congratulates them on a life well lived.

Memorials may be made to the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee (wwwsomethingextra.com) or the charity or church of your choice.

A Celebration of Life for Sherman and Linda will be held at Hendersonville Funeral Home, in Hendersonville, at 11 A.M. on Saturday, September 25, 2021 with visitation one hour prior to service time.