Obituary: Linda Farmer Lowe Piazza

Linda Farmer Lowe Piazza

March 6, 1944 - September 10, 2025

81 Years of Age

Linda Farmer Lowe Piazza passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 1:15 PM, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease, with her husband, daughter, and son by her side.

Born on March 6, 1944, in Jackson, Mississippi, Linda was the daughter of the late Samuel F. Farmer and Etta Dorothy Izard Farmer. The Farmer and Izard families were among Mississippi’s early settlers, having moved to Copiah County in the early 1800s. Linda grew up surrounded by family—parents, brother, grandparents, aunts, and uncles—who nurtured her strong sense of community and faith.

She attended Jackson Public Schools and graduated from Provine High School in 1962. At Mississippi State College for Women (now MUW), she majored in Speech Pathology and Audiology, serving as Social Chairman of the Speech and Hearing Club, treasurer of Sigma Alpha Eta, and a member of Rosette Social Club. She later earned her Master’s degree at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), studying under Dr. Godfrey Arnold. After completing her internship and national boards, she joined the Communication Disorder Clinic at UMMC, where she also taught as an Instructor for over a decade. Linda went on to serve as Director of Special Services in the Copiah County School System, helping children discover their voices and potential.

Linda was a pioneer in her field. She played a role in the early development of the Mississippi Speech and Language Association, serving as newsletter editor and in various leadership positions. In 2014, she received the Clinical Achievement Award from the Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association for her outstanding contributions to clinical practice in speech-language pathology.

She married James Edward Lowe, Jr. in 1972 and raised her children in Clinton, Mississippi, where she was active in the PTA, the Junior Auxiliary of Clinton, and First United Methodist Church of Clinton. She even served as a Boy Scout Den Mother. Later, in 1989, she married Michael Leonard Piazza, beginning a 36-year marriage filled with love, partnership, and shared service. Together they spent two years in Redlands, California, before returning home to Mississippi, where Linda founded Speech Care Associates. Through her practice, she worked with schools and Head Start centers across the state, particularly in the Mississippi Delta, improving the lives of countless children. She retired when the COVID-19 pandemic forced school and center closures.

Faith remained central to Linda’s life. After many years as a devoted member of First United Methodist Church of Clinton, she later became a faithful member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, where she continued to serve and remain active in her church community.

Linda’s dedication to children extended beyond her career. She was a tireless advocate for services supporting children’s health and education, often lobbying on their behalf. She also supported the arts as an early member of New Stage Theatre, volunteering in fundraisers, front-of-house duties, and backstage work with props and costumes. She served on the Provine Class of 1962 reunion committee for many years, cherishing the connections with her classmates.

Creative at heart, Linda enjoyed sketching, painting, and writing throughout her life. She also loved cooking, entertaining, and welcoming others into her home. Known for her gracious spirit, she was a devoted godmother to Marshall Wall and a loving aunt to Janet Farmer Simpson and Kathy Farmer, as well as a deeply loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She especially treasured time with her grandchildren—Caroline, Taylor, and Aiden—and never missed an opportunity to celebrate their milestones.

Linda is survived by her beloved husband, Michael Piazza; her children, Michael Lowe (Misty) of Madison, MS, and Megan Lowe Kane (Michael) of New Orleans, LA; and her grandchildren Caroline Lowe, Taylor Kane, and Aiden Kane. She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel F. Farmer and Dorothy Izard Farmer, and her brother, Samuel K. Farmer.

Her life was one of service, faith, love, and creativity—a legacy that will live on in her family, her profession, and the many lives she touched.

Service Information

A private family burial will take place at Strong Hope Baptist Church in Copiah County. Following this, family and friends are invited to a celebration of Linda’s life on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM at the Bellevue Clubhouse at Lake Caroline (667 Bellevue Drive, Madison, MS 39110). Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance and honor of her beautiful life.

Flowers & Memorial Gifts

Flowers are welcome, but in lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com/. When donating, please select that you would like to designate the gift to a specific affiliate and choose Humphreys County. The Imagination Library provides free books each month to children from birth to age five, inspiring a lifelong love of reading and learning. Supporting this program would mean so much to Linda, who devoted much of her career to caring for and educating children in this region.