Linda Guarin Saliba

Linda Guarin Saliba, 78, of Dothan, went on to be with the Lord Jesus on October 5, 2012. Visitation will be Sunday afternoon, October 7, 2012, from 1:00 to 3:00, at First Baptist Church in Dothan on West Main St. The Funeral Service will be at 3:00 with Brothers Johnny Fain and Bob Gross officiating. Sunset Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Pallbearers are Dr. William Hanson, Guy Clardy, Willie Washington, Fred and Mark Saliba and Dr. Mohammed Hassan. The family will have a private time at the family burial plot at the city cemetery on E. Main St, under the cedar tree grove planted by Linda's father-in-law after coming to Dothan in the early 1900's.

Linda was born August 21, 1934, in Colombia, South America. Linda's mother had moved to South America from Lebanon to visit relatives and got married. At age 16, while on break from attending a Catholic school for girls in Bogota, Colombia, Linda visited her aunt in Dothan and met Alexy Saliba, who was 32. They were married two weeks later. Linda's mother had worked in Alexy's childhood home as a nanny in Lebanon and had told Linda many stories about the Saliba family, including Alexy. The couple had three boys, Frank, Gary and Van. Linda accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior under the ministry of Dr. Sam Maddox, Sr., and the Salibas virtually lived at First Baptist Church. Linda started teaching fourth grade Sunday School, and was still teaching with Paulette Clardy until this past summer.

After raising the boys, who one by one went off to college, Linda decided to get her GED since having never finished high school. She enrolled at Wallace Community College, transferring to Troy University and the University of Alabama. After obtaining her degree, she taught Spanish, her native language, at Enterprise High School. After settling in Enterprise, Alexy had his third heart attack, and went to be with the Lord January 23, 1986. Linda continued to teach in Enterprise until her late 60's. She then took a position teaching Spanish at Providence Christian School, teaching 3 classes a day until she suffered a stroke on January 23, 2010. Best known as a loving wife and mother, Linda freely offered her bilingual skills to whoever asked. On many summer nights, during the tomato picking season, she assisted the Ridgecrest Baptist Church Migrant Worker Ministry in Geneva County. She also taught several small groups who requested her services as they were preparing for mission work into Spanish speaking countries.

Linda is survived by two brothers, Chepe and Miquel, and a sister, Rosita, in Colombia, South America. Survivors also include, her three boys, Frank (Heather), Gary (Robin), and Van (Cindi); seven grandchildren Adrienne Black (Jason), Tamara Squire (Chris); Stephen, Jake, Spencer, Isabelle and James Franklin Saliba. Also, are four great-grandchildren, Abigail, Esther, Eli and Bailee Black. Linda's family would like to express their gratitude to Linda's caregivers, Willie and Mary Washington, and Linda's close friends, Paulette and Guy Clardy.