Linda Cottman

Linda Taylor Cottman was born March 23, 1946, in Parkin, Arkansas to parents, Mary Lee Wilson and L. H. Taylor.  She was the youngest of five children.

Linda’s early education began at the tender age of four in a one-room schoolhouse where her grandmother Gertrude Gates Maxwell was the principal.  When she was officially enrolled in school, Linda was able to skip first grade and began her formal education in second grade.  Later the family moved to Akron, Ohio where she attended Akron Public Schools.  Linda attended Central High School where she was a member of the track team. She excelled in track and placed first in the hurdles in the Akron District City Finals.

After graduation from High School, Linda worked at Goodyear for several years as a secretary while attending The University of Akron.  Linda graduated in 1973 from the University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Advertising.  She was then employed by Akron Public Schools for 36 years as a Business Education Teacher.  While working as a teacher, Linda pursued and earned a Master of Science in Technical Education from the University of Akron in 2005. Linda was a dedicated teacher and mentor.  In 1998, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year in the Akron Public School system.  She retired from teaching in 2012.

In 1968, while attending church services at Macedonia Baptist Church, Linda met the love of her life, Kirkwood S. Cottman.  They were married on October 17, 1970, by Rev. Eugene E. Morgan.  To this union, the three K’s were born (Kendra Elaine, Karin Lin, and Kirkwood Kermit).

Linda was dedicated to God and Wesley Temple AME Zion Church.  She wore many hats. She served as Superintendent of Sunday School, Substitute Secretary, Adult Sunday School Teacher, Bible Study Teacher, Director of Adults for Christian Education, Co-Coordinator Technology ministry, Co-Coordinator of the Sign Language Ministry, and sign language teacher.   She loved signing at Gospel Meets Symphony for the deaf.  She was a computer science teacher, a program organizer, Master of Ceremonies for various church events and various NAACP events.

Some of her favorite activities included watching science fiction television and movies.  Star Trek, Star Wars, and all things Marvel were her favorites.  She especially enjoyed anything and everything Disney and Mickey Mouse.  She enjoyed traveling to Disney World, Las Vegas, and Hawaii with her family.  She was also a big baseball fan and enjoyed attending Cleveland Indians games with her family.  Other favorite activities included playing word games, puzzles, reading books, and knitting even though she said her sisters were much better at it.

Linda was committed to her husband, children, mother, family members, and numerous friends.  We will all miss Mommy very much.  From the weekly Wednesday hair appointments to her surprise visits to us at work. We will remember how her face lit up when we would come for a visit.  We will miss the home-cooked meals after a long day’s work.  We will miss the time we spent just talking, joking around, and teasing her about who her favorite child was.  We had fun times just sitting around watching TV and movies.  Our favorite times were the family vacations she planned for us.  She really enjoyed having all her children together.

Linda had a smile that lit up the room.  The word “no” was not in her vocabulary.  If you needed her, she was there, whether it was for her family, her church, or her friends. Her sweet and gentle spirit and her selfless heart have left this earth, but not our hearts.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Joyce Walker, and her stepfather, Percy Wilson.

Linda transitioned at Akron General Hospital on July 19, 2022.  She leaves to mourn her devoted husband, Kirkwood S. Cottman; her children, Kendra Elaine, Karin Lin, and Kirkwood Kermit; mother, Mary Lee Wilson of Akron; brother, Larry Taylor (Deloris) of Chicago, Illinois; sisters, Laura Motley of California, and June Sands of Kansas City, Missouri; along with numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.