Linda Holbrook

Kramer

Our kitchen will never be the same with the passing of our precious wife, mother, mother-in-law, and Meme. Linda Holbrook Kramer, age 75, left this Earth peacefully on Saturday, November 7, 2026. We expect she was greeted at Heaven’s gate first by Jesus, then by her parents and sisters, before heading straight to Heaven’s kitchen to whip up a large pan of lasagna or a roast with gravy and mac-and-cheese.

Linda was born on September 13, 1951, in Birmingham, the middle daughter of Bess and Posey Holbrook. She lived a life fully dedicated to her husband and family. For 48 years, she doted on her husband, John. More than anything in the world, Linda wanted to be a mother. She poured her heart into her two bonus sons before welcoming two more boys of her own.

To say Linda was a good mother is an understatement—that beautiful soul raised the bar on motherhood. Her home was always warm and open, nobody ever left hungry, and everyone felt loved. Her boys—all of them—knew they were cherished:

“She made me believe in myself.”

“She made sure you were comfortable in every way.”

“She was always so proud of us, no matter how big or small the achievement.”

When her daughters-in-law arrived, Linda treated them as her own. And when the grandbabies came along, her remarkable maternal instincts shone once again. Her advice was second to none: “Just sing to them—make up songs, make up stories. They don’t care about the words; they just want to hear your voice.”

That nurturing spirit extended to a houseful of spoiled, deeply loved pets: “She treated every animal with crazy love! No vet bill was too big, and nothing was too much to make them happy.”

Though her family and fur babies were her top priorities, Linda always found joy in life's simple pleasures. In her younger years, she loved being on the water—on a boat, at the beach, or by the backyard pool. She had a green thumb and spent hours tending flowers around her home. A lifelong lover of photographs, her home became a museum of memories, framed with photos of every season of her family’s lives. Above all, spending hours in the kitchen was never a chore, but a true labor of love.

Linda will forever be remembered for her devotion to her husband, her deep love for her children, her warmth, her genuine smile, her infectious laugh, and her preference for comfort over pretense. Her love language was cooking, and she leaves a lasting imprint on all who knew and loved her.

Linda is survived by her devoted husband, John Kramer, Jr.; her loving sons, Jason Kramer (Lindsay) of Marietta, GA, Steven Kramer (Katie) of Hayden, AL, John Kramer, III (Staci) of Cedar Falls, IA, and Brian Kramer (Marie) of Picayune, MS; her cherished grandchildren, William Kramer and Ethan Kramer of Marietta, GA; Steven Kramer, Jr. of Hayden, AL, Todd Kramer (Mandy) of Crestview, FL, Jay Kramer (Brianna) of Jesup, IA, Keller Kramer of Cedar Falls, IA, and Delton Kramer (Hannah) and Gabriel Kramer of Petal, MS; 5 precious great-grandchildren; her beloved nephew, James Michael Sherer (Mandy) of Morris, AL; and her dear cousins, Vicki Taylor and Betty Northen of Mountain Brook, AL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bess and Posey Holbrook, and her sisters, Juanita Ethridge and Virginia Sherer.

A service to celebrate Linda’s life will be held on Friday, November 13, at 11:00 AM at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home (1591 Gadsden Hwy, Birmingham), followed by graveside services at 12:30 PM at Forest Hill Cemetery in Birmingham.