Linda J. Rapee

Linda Joyce Rapee, 71, of Columbia, Maryland passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, with her sisters by her side. Born on November 24, 1953, at Sibley Hospital in Washington, DC to Ellsworth Huntington Rapee and Annie Laurie (Bunn) Rapee, Linda joined her older sisters Brenda and Beverly. Along with her sisters, Linda attended Thomas Stone and Lewisdale Elementary Schools, Mount Rainier Junior High School and Northwestern High School (Class of 1971). She was the “baby” who tagged along with her older siblings wanting to make sure she never missed a thing. Along with her family, Linda attended Brookland Baptist Church in Northeast DC where she was baptized, accepting Jesus Christ as her Savior. Many warm summer afternoons and evenings were filled with her high stepping baton twirling as a member of the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department majorettes. While no one counted steps in those days, hers were probably in the thousands as she marched in scores of parades each year. Linda loved to sing and dance and was always happy to attend the weekly Teen Club at Mount Rainier Junior High School. Even as she aged and her memory lapsed, she could perfectly recall every line and every verse of those great 60’s and 70’s hits. During high school, Linda switched gears putting down her baton and picking up pom-poms to join the Northwestern High School Pom Pom Squad. Linda chose the University of Maryland for her college years, majoring in and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education. Here she welcomed a different kind of sisterhood as a sorority member of Kappa Alpha Theta, #8 Fraternity Row. After college, Linda tried her hand at a number of careers, always finding something new to try. Linda was blessed with that unconditional love that only a pet can give by her dear little pup, Keisha, who stayed by her side for many years. While navigating the world, Linda met with significant hardships resulting from her mental health struggles. Having to face the sometimes isolation, prejudices, and discrimination from others she forged a remarkable life of resilience and independence in spite of the challenges she faced. Her ongoing relationship with HUMANIM through the years afforded her a life of dignity and respect. Linda was able to live independently until very recently when both her physical and mental health declined. The family is forever grateful to the compassionate, committed staff of HUMANIM that guided and cared for Linda in her adult years. Linda is survived by her sisters, Brenda Watson (John) and Beverly Simmons; her nieces and nephews Jennifer Cash (Nate), Matthew Watson (Julie), Harry Simmons IV (Julie), Heather Watson, Courtney Carter (Josh), and Danielle Simmons; her great nieces and nephews Kyle, Cameron, Graham, Harry V, Juliet, Hannah, Allison, Maggie and Drew; her aunt, Joyce Woodard; and several cousins. She is also survived by her extended family at HUMANIM, especially Sandy Corbin and Lisa Eldridge.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents and her devoted long-time HUMANIM counselor, Vanessa Conway as well as pup Keisha.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20906. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Linda’s memory be made to HUMANIM, https://humanim.org or Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland https://mealsonwheelsmd.org/donate-online

Humanim’s mission is to support and empower individuals who face social or economic challenges by building pathways to economic equity, opportunity, and independence.

Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious meals while providing support and safety-net services that help sustain health, promote independence, and improve overall quality of life.