Linda Elizabeth Whitten Braun, a devoted wife, sister, aunt, friend and teacher left this world on August 11, 2025 at the age of 75. Linda was a lifelong learner and teacher who taught us all until the moment she died.
Born to Elizabeth (Betty) Haynes Whitten and Henry Fears Whitten on January 2, 1950 in Fitzgerald, GA, Linda was a voracious student and child with a tremendous imagination. She spent her days ripping and roaring with her sister, Jean Whitten Mobley and her best friend, Deni Garland Dorminy.
After graduating from Fitzgerald High School in 1968, Linda attended The University of Georgia and became a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and Alpha Lamba Delta Honor Society. Linda graduated from UGA in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. After graduating from UGA, Linda returned to Fitzgerald where she began her career teaching English at Fitzgerald High School. In 1976 Linda obtained her Master of Science in Education from Valdosta State.
On August 18, 1979, Linda married Max Braun, the love of her life. A dynamic teaching and coaching duo through the 1980’s, 1990’s, and early 2000’s, they enjoyed time at Colquitt County High School and Effingham County High School where they lived in a wonderful 100+ year-old farmhouse. Finishing her career at Irwin County High School, Linda was named Star Teacher numerous times throughout her teaching career. Though Linda did not have biological children, her legacy will live on through countless students whose lives she touched in her classroom. Linda retired in 2005.
During her “retirement” Linda remained incredibly active in the Duet Club where she and her friends enjoyed the gift of music and playing piano duets together. In addition to the Duet Club, she worked diligently with the Friends of the Library team to ensure that all residents of Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County continued to have access to all the knowledge contained in the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Library. Linda of course remained active with her Book Review Club – helping to carry on the traditions of this longstanding club in Fitzgerald.
She and Max relished taking their annual trips to Clayton, GA - a beautiful town in the North Georgia mountains where many of Linda’s and Jean’s mother’s family members lived. Linda and Max stayed in a beautiful mountain home formerly owned by a wonderfully eccentric Coca-Cola heiress. Beautiful sunrises, sunsets, moonlit nights and even several beautiful snowy days were enjoyed each fall and winter by these two lovebirds.
Slow to anger and quick to forgive, Linda lived a life in which everyone was given grace and the benefit of the doubt. She loved all creatures great and small and fully embodied 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 in everything that she did. “Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
Linda is survived by her husband Max Braun, her sister Jean Whitten Mobley, her brother-in-law Ennis Mobley, her nieces Melissa Mobley Black (Jimbo) and Kathryn Mobley. Also surviving are her great nieces Emily Black and Leanne Mobley-Goolsby, and her great-nephews Brenden Lewis, Brett Black and Marc Mobley-Goolsby.
A visitation will be held at First Baptist Church, 402 South Merrimac Drive, Fitzgerald, Georgia from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on Thursday, August, 14, 2025 followed by the funeral service in the Sanctuary at 2:00 PM. Rev. Blane Jacobs will officiate and the eulogy will be given by Linda's niece, Melissa Mobley Black. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, 171 Evergreen Road, Fitzgerald, Georgia directly after the service.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Humane Society, 106 Lions Park Road, Fitzgerald GA 31750, or to Communities in Schools, P O Box 362, Fitzgerald GA 31750.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.