Linda "Sunshine" Carol Snead Perry

Linda (Sunshine) Carol Snead Perry, 81, of Iron Station, NC, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family on September 14, 2025. She was born August 23, 1944, in Wake County to Charles Champion Snead and Mildred Seagroves Snead.

Health note: In March 2023, Sunshine was diagnosed with stage four Spindle Cell Carcinoma, a rare and fast spreading breast and lung cancer. After only seven rounds of chemotherapy, she decided to be placed on in-home Hospice care in September 2024, in which she was given 4-6 months to live; however, she proved her doctors wrong and lived a total of one full year instead. Her daily caregivers in her last months of life were her husband, Michael, and her grandson, Kevin.

Known and fun facts about Sunshine, a name given to her by her husband, Michael. She retired from Duke University and was a huge Duke basketball fan, and was on the Garner High School girls basketball team from 1960-61. She enjoyed bowling in her younger years; was a big fan of NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt, Jr; she enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, word search puzzles, playing cards with her family, and reading Danielle Steel books. She loved and adored her dogs (Koda and Precious), and her cat (Rusty). Her favorite colors were yellow, especially yellow flowers, and all shades of green.

She is survived by her husband, Michael Perry; daughters, Gina (Jerry) Ennis of Apex and Christy Hobby of Clayton; son, Micheal McLean (Hailey); Five grandchildren: Kevin Wilson, Jessica Smith, Cheyenne Helminiak, Jaxon and Cameron McLean; and two great-grandchildren, Kinsley Helminiak and Holland Smith. Linda was also the eldest of five children in which she is survived by her sisters, Peggy Driver of Bailey and Donna (Vernon) Jenkins of Maiden. She is preceded in death by her sister, Ann Walowich and brother, Phil Snead.

Memorial Service will be held Monday, September 22, 2025 at 1:00pm at Jenkins Funeral Home, 4081 Startown Rd, Newton, NC 28658.

Please sign the online guestbook on the Memorial Wall at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Perry family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton 828-464-1555.