Mrs. Linda McCollum Armstead left this life early morning on August 10, 2017. She was born to Pina Lee Rice and Gertis Terrell McCollum on July 13, 1947. She was the ninth of eleven children. Linda was proceeded in death by two older sisters; Nellie Jean and Essia Jean McCollum Douglas, two older brothers; Andrew Clarence and Grady McCollum, and one younger brother, Carter “Pop” McCollum. Linda became a member of the Church of Christ at the age of twelve. She was very active in the Lord’s work. She completed “Fishers of Men” class and began to study with her community. Many souls were added to the church as a result of her teaching. Linda graduated from college in 1970 with a major in Business. She later achieved her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix. Linda was always interested in politics; she was elected three times to the Roosevelt School Board in Phoenix, AZ. She served on that board for twelve years, where she helped support the education of children by developing better reading and mathematic programs. Linda married David Malcolm Armstead on March 28, 1969. To this union two children were born, David Shelley Armstead and Linda Renee Armstead-January. In 1999, Linda was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. She was told by the experts that she had 3 years to live. Obviously, true to her spirit, she beat the odds and lived to see her children fall in love, marry and have children. She watched her nieces and nephews have children, and their children have children. She was truly blessed and they we blessed by her. Linda was a very devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She took the time to expose her children, nieces and nephews to many things; politics, business deals, negotiations, personnel actions, labor laws and many other things that are encountered in life. She believed that not all education was taught in the classroom, but through exposure and mentoring. She continued this tradition with her grandchildren. Linda priorities were God, family and close friends, in that order. Anyone who knew her, knew she was not afraid to speak her mind and stand her ground. She was an expert counselor, acting as that go to person to help you think your way through any tough situation. She was a role model to her children, nieces and nephews, by teaching them to set goals and work to achieve them, as well as learning from their mistakes. Linda, her husband David, and brother James moved back to Alabama in 2004, to the same community she grew up in. Which was also the residence of her bothers Charles, Daniel, Ruben, and their wives. She became a member of the Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC) and sat on the stirring committee of the Democratic Party for Alabama. She remained in that position until her death Linda leaves to mourn her death two children; David Shelley Armstead (Denne) and Linda Renee January (Marques), six brothers; James Allen Richey resides in Winfield, Ruben E McCollum (Bobbie) resides in Winfield, Howard M. McCollum (Sadie) resides in Milwaukee, WI, Charles McCollum resides in Winfield, Daniel McCollum (Mary) resides in Tupelo, MS, Miles L. McCollum (Evelyn) resides in Phoenix, AZ. Three grandchildren, Tyler Cole “T” January, Taylor Nicole “Little Girlie” January and Alivia “YaYa” Armstead. She also leaves a host of nieces (with a special place in her heart for Phyllis), nephews, cousins and friends. She has a special friend that was like a sister, Mrs. Janice Moore of Phoenix, AZ.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 19th, 2017 from the Bowen Funeral Home Chapel.  A visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m (service time) at the funeral home.  Bowen Funeral Home of Winfield serving the Armstead family.