Church Member Spotlight: Linda Demott

Debbie Snapp
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Linda Gramling Demott has always loved going to church. As a matter-of-fact, she sought out a church family all by herself. As a youngster, she lived in Monticello, right down the street from the First United Methodist Church (FUMC). The bells and music got the best of her curiosity one day, and this little fourth grader just walked in the church doors and asked where she belonged. She became a member of the FUMC and accepted Christ as her personal Savior during her years there. “We had great Sunday School teachers,” adds Demott.

Her favorite part of church is Vacation Bible School (VBS). Demott says that she has always been actively involved in VBS and shares that she can only remember missing one time after her beginning the summer program.

She remembers as a youngster gathering up the younger children and teaching them to sing in her own “church choir.” To this very day she loves directing and teaching others to sing.

Demott was a student of Monticello Elementary School and Jefferson High School. She was baptized at Elizabeth Baptist Church (EBC) after moving in with her Gramma Walker. Gramma lived in the house next to Elizabeth Baptist Church. When Demott was in junior high school she moved in with her gramma. She was very much involved in the school band program and fell in love with music.

She became the choir director at EBC in the 1970s, when Rev. Douglas Mitchel was pastor. Through her years at EBC, Demott was also a Sunday School secretary and primary Sunday School teacher.

She learned how to play piano from several church members over the years. The first song she ever played was “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.” She played it with one hand! She wanted to learn more about piano and would attend all the church conferences that would offer piano and music.

In January of this year, Demott traveled to visit longtime church member Tommy Lee Cone. Cone played piano at ECB for many years. “She would travel from Perry, Fla. to play piano during church services,” says Demott. “She played the piano during our visit in January for her 90th birthday.”

Demott continued her education at Lively Business School, entering into the employment field for the Florida Department of Agriculture.

She married Herbert Demott in 1959; he passed away in 2016. He was a deacon at EBC. They have four children. “All of my children sang in the church choir,” she adds. “My daughter Laurie plays piano.”

After her children were all in college, Demott decided to continue her education at North Florida Junior College, on a scholarship. She also took a course in music at Florida State University.

She taught piano at Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA) for many years. It was at the request of Marjorie Finlayson, her longtime friend and hero, that Demott began teaching beginner piano at ACA. She also taught at the summer camp programs.

Demott recently purchased her Gramma Walker's house. “I have loving memories in this house.”