Linda Graham Brockman

Linda Graham Brockman, of Vernon, CT died peacefully in the care of Hospice at Home on Oct. 17, 2024, in the fifty-ninth year of her marriage to the Rev. Dr. Bennett A. Brockman. She is survived by Ben and their sons William Brockman and his wife Lucy Hadden of Boston and Nathan Brockman and his wife Anne Ross of Philadelphia; her grandchildren Viola, Raven, Mae, and Tessa; her brother Edward Graham and his wife Emily of Pendleton, SC; her sister Elizabeth Wright and husband Thomas Wright of Florence, SC; her late sister Donna Rone’s husband Curtis Rone of Columbia, SC; and beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and in-laws in communities from Boston to Charleston, SC.

Born in 1943 in Florence, SC, Linda was the eldest child of John LeRoy Graham and Mabel Mims Graham. She attended local schools, graduating at the top of her high school class. Her brilliant mind led her to an undergraduate degree from Furman University, where she met her husband, and on to graduate study at Vanderbilt University and Peabody College, and finally a doctorate from Harvard University. A devoted teacher as well as a talented student, she taught high school students until she began raising her family, and along the way coached professors in the teaching arts at the University of Connecticut, finally teaching ethics at Fairfield University in the schools of nursing, education, and business. 

Her observant presence held a wisdom that friends and family treasured and that many others perceived and appreciated especially as they encountered her in the context of church choirs that were her passion: in her native Florence, and later in churches where she provided unwavering support and wise counsel to her husband in his service as an Episcopal parish priest across Connecticut in Storrs, Litchfield, Fairfield, Stafford Springs, Westport, Hartford, Vernon and Windham, and for one apprentice year in England. A lifelong wordsmith, her favorite chair to relax in was surrounded by novels and volumes of poetry. She published poems and wrote new lyrics for several hymn tunes and for the Advent season of the Church year. In her retirement years she loved the book group at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Vernon. She enjoyed sharing family recipes and took great delight in her later years that her sons had developed their own considerable skills in the kitchen. Sweet potato casserole with candied pecans, from her mother’s recipe, was a favorite contribution at the family gatherings that brought her such joy. She was a kind and astute mentor, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sibling, aunt and in-law, and a stalwart friend, nurturing to her last days friendships made in high school, college, and along her life’s path. She was deeply loved by many and returned that love unreservedly. Her death brings sorrow to many lives.

A memorial Holy Eucharist celebrating and thanking God for her life will be conducted at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 661 Old Post Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824 on Saturday, November 2 at 1 pm. This service will be livestreamed. Honoring Linda’s love of church music as a singer and worshiper, memorial gifts to the music program at St. Paul’s will be cordially appreciated and gratefully received and utilized. Use https://www.stpaulsfairfield.org/ways-to-give to give online or send a check to the street address. In either case use “In memory of Linda Brockman” in the memo line.