The community lost another angel with the passing of Linda Lanier, who left this world for eternal rest with the Heavenly Father on April 15. She was 70 years old.
Her celebration of life service will take place on Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m., at Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary, 3801 W. Manchester Blvd, in Inglewood.
A resident of Inglewood, Linda retired as an executive manager with the City of Los Angeles Department of Personnel. Appointed the citywide training manager, she oversaw the development and implementation of promotional exercises, instruction manuals, and performance evaluations for the city’s 40,000+ employees.
Linda was also a faithful member of Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church, which she joined in 1986. She served on the Senior Usher Board and was the co-coordinator of the Junior Usher Board as well as a valued supporter of the Young People’s Division. In 2008, the church presented Linda with a Trailblazer Award for her dedicated service.
A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Linda was born on November 27, 1951 to Lee Birden and Adelene Island. Her family relocated to Los Angeles in 1961. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from CSU-Dominguez Hills and completed graduate courses in leadership and technology at USC and CSU-Long Beach.
In 1971, she accepted employment with the city as a clerk stenographer. She received several promotions to positions of increasing responsibility, which propelled to the top assignment directing training for the city’s workforce. Her achievements were further recognized in 2004 when she received a City Career Service Award in acknowledgement of her outstanding contributions to the organization. She also served 12 years on the Executive Board of the Los Angeles Association of Black Personnel.
Linda was active in several organizations including the Order of the Eastern Star Sadie Alexander Chapter No. 5, Red Hatter and Celebrate Life Cancer Ministries. She truly enjoyed dancing and was a member of a number of line dance groups as well as numerous senior citizen clubs.
She was preceded in death by her father and siblings, Sarah Zillendor, Eddie Island and Gregory Island.
Cherishing her memory are her son, Damon; grandson, Devin; mother, Adelene Island; twin sister Mary Island Martin, sister, Patricia Island; brother, Eartis Island; and a host of relatives and friends.
