Obituary of Lynda Walker Higgins

Lynda Walker Higgins of Pell City passed away on May 2, 2016. Lynda was born in Birmingham, Alabama to William and Florina Walker, the youngest of 3 daughters. Orphaned by the age of 15, she married John Howard Higgins in 1966 and moved to Chicago, Illinois. While there she had her first three children. She also established a love for the Chicago Cubs that she held onto for the rest of her life. The family moved to Washington State where her youngest child was born. Lynda returned to Alabama, happy to be near her sisters again, although she left her oldest daughter behind working on a great career. Lynda continued to live in Alabama for the rest of her life, where she became many things to many people. She was a Sunday school teacher at Mt. Pisgah Baptist, where she met and taught many young children and enjoyed watching them grow into adults. She also made her family larger when she went to work at the Pell City Animal Hospital. It was there that she found her calling. She was able to combine her love for animals with her love for helping people. She took great pride in being able to help everyone she saw. Her constant smile, infectious laugh and sincere compassion won her many two and four legged friends. She served on the board of the Pell City Animal Shelter (ASPCI) for many years and continued to support ASPCI in their current programs of rescue, foster and adoption. She loved English history, especially William the Conqueror, and Henry the VIII and was able to fulfill a lifelong dream by visiting England. Lynda was proud of her family, extended and otherwise. She is survived by her oldest sister, Jane Hosch, her ex-husband Howard Higgins, her 4 children, Elizabeth Murray (Stephen), John Higgins (Qian), Laura King (Lance), and Will Higgins, and her 3 grandchildren Sarah and Stephen Murray, and Lawson King and her dog, Bip and cat, Cal. Lynda wanted everyone to remember her as she’d lived, and so requested to be cremated with no funeral or graveside service. Instead she wanted an Irish wake where everyone can get together and remember her and be happy they knew her. The wake will be held on Friday the 6th at Celebrations in Pell City between 4 and 8 PM, with a brief Eulogy at 6 PM. Memorial donations may be made to the ASPCI, P. O. Box 566, Pell City, AL 35125.