Linda Watson Horton

Linda Watson Horton of Spring Hill, TN left this earth on January 20, 2023, at the age of 71, along with her husband David Michael Horton aged 70. She joins her mother, Jean Hall Spillman, and father, W.J. Watson, Jr., who preceded her in death.  Also waiting to welcome her are her three sons Robert (Robbie) Edward Taft, Steven David Taft, and Jason Michael Horton, and a very special friend, the sister she never had, Pam Martin, who taught her to live life with joy and laughter and die with dignity and grace. She leaves her two daughters, Ashley Horton Greene of Hoover, AL (Ben) and Bronwyn Horton Bacon of Palm Desert, CA (Evan), and grandchildren Jacob Coleman and Lauren Mackenzie Greene of Hoover, AL, and Kaylee Renae Taft of Wedowee, AL. She has 3 surviving brothers: Steven Douglas Watson of Phoenix, AZ (Stephanie), Wm. David Watson of Washougal, WA (JoEllen), and David Edward Watson of NYC, NY.  Finally, there are numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who stay behind to mourn her passing.

Mrs. Horton graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Microbiology (1981) and Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine (1985). She began her working career at Biotherapeutics in Franklin, TN doing cancer research before moving to Vanderbilt University to study HIV. Following her diagnosis of breast cancer in 1995, she transferred her research endeavors to this field which resulted in peer-reviewed publications and the Edward E. Price Jr. Award for Excellence in Basic Research. As a cancer survivor, she was a passionate research advocate, serving in a wide variety of areas. She worked on the Artemis Project for the National Breast Cancer Coalition and served as a Consumer Reviewer for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Medical Research Program.  She served as a patient advocate on numerous Susan G. Komen and Department of Defense grants awarded to Vanderbilt University investigators and served as a patient advocate on the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) Scientific Review Committee. She was a member of the VICC Research Advocates Group and as such, participated in the breast cancer SPORE.

She retired from Vanderbilt after 26 years and began to devote herself to her favorite hobby, gardening. She participated in the University of Tennessee Master Gardener Program in 2015 and, following completion, passionately threw herself into numerous gardening projects throughout Williamson County. She served as a facilitator for the 2019 and 2020 intern classes and as President of the Williamson County Master Gardener Association from 2019 until 2021 when illness forced her to resign her position. Her heart was always in the garden.

In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Horton has requested donations to her favorite charity: Angel Heart Farm (https://www.angelheartfarm.com/how-to-help). This facility uses equine therapy to help children battling cancer and other terminal diseases. A Celebration of Life has been planned for March 26th at 2:00 pm at the Carnton House gardens located at 1345 Eastern Flank Cir, Franklin, TN 37064. Please…..NO FUNERAL CLOTHES!

The care of Mrs. Linda W. Horton and her family has been entrusted to the staff of Williams Funeral Home. To share words of comfort and condolences, and to send floral arrangments, please visit www.williamsfh.com.