Linda Gay Hall, 74, died March 17, 2026 at Transitions LifeCare hospice home in Raleigh after a long illness. Born June 30, 1951 in Winston-Salem, Linda lived a full life on her own terms. A graduate of East Carolina University and UNC-Chapel Hill, she was intellectually curious, engaged with the world around her, and not afraid to stand up for herself and for justice for others. Her adventurous spirit led her around the globe, living in Maine, Bermuda, and Spain before settling in the mountains of Western North Carolina for most of her adulthood. Linda cared deeply about indigenous communities. She was an archaeologist, working throughout her career in roles with the NC Office of State Archaeology and as an independent consultant. Outside of work, she was politically engaged and regularly participated in progressive activism in her community.

Linda was kind, welcoming, smart, and had a great sense of humor. She loved being outside in the mountains, either in her garden, working in the field, or sitting on her deck with coffee. She loved her two children and spending time with her circle of close friends, including her dear neighbors Beverly and Geraldine. She often took trips abroad with her friend Pat, and looked forward to visiting her on the NC coast each summer. She was a great animal lover and welcomed many dogs and cats into her home and heart throughout her life. She enjoyed beating everyone at Scrabble, doing crosswords, listening to NPR, and watching Masterpiece Mystery every weekend. Slow to trust, she was fiercely loyal to those she cared about, and inspired that loyalty in her family and friends.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Bruce Edward Hall and Edith Shelor Hall, and her brother, Bruce Edward (Eddie) Hall, Jr. She is survived by her sister, Phylis Tesh (Reid) of Midway, her children Jason Baker (Erin Crouse) and Ben Baker (Adrienne Bonar) of Chapel Hill, two nephews (Rodney Smith (Kym) of Charlotte and David Hall (Erin) of Marietta, Georgia), three grand-nieces, one grand-nephew, two great-grand nephews, and several close friends. A celebration of life will be held at Beech Community Center in Weaverville on May 3rd at 1:30pm.

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