Lynda Skinner Zehmer, 73

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors announces the death of Lynda Skinner Zehmer, 73, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, after a long illness. Services in Florida will be held Wednesday, January 15, at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, with a reception in Westbury Parish Hall following the service. Graveside services will be conducted Friday, January 17, at 11 a.m. at Wheeler Family Cemetery.

Lynda was born on March 19, 1951, in Dublin, the daughter of Nell Schwalls Skinner and R.H. Skinner of Swainsboro. She grew up as an only child on a farm in central Georgia, which was the perfect training ground for her independent spirit. During high school, Lynda’s family moved to Swainsboro, where she and her high school colleagues won the State Championship in cheerleading. After high school, she attended the University of Georgia where she graduated Cum Laude in three years. There, Lynda met her first husband, Anthony A. Hirst, III. Tragically, after they moved to Jacksonville, he died prematurely at the age of 31. They had one son, Anthony A. Hirst, IV (Marc), who currently resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida with his wife Anna and two daughters, Teagan and Tatiana. In 1988, Lynda married John H. Zehmer, who had the privilege of raising Marc and two more sons, Sean H. Zehmer, currently residing in Washington, D.C. and Alexander S. Zehmer, currently residing in Orlando, Florida.

Lynda had a special zest and love for life and always had a happy smile for others. She never lost touch with her roots, and her accent would magically change when crossing the Georgia state line. One of her greatest loves was traveling to other parts of the world, and she was fortunate enough to visit over 25 countries on several continents. Lynda was an undaunted optimist and a fitness fanatic. She had a voracious appetite for newspapers and news’ events and kept voluminous notebooks on matters of interest. Lynda had a special gift for seeing the world through another person’s eyes, and more than once, corrected her husband’s social myopia. She was also extremely realistic and practical, often in contrast to the males in the house. First and foremost, Lynda was a great mother, and her proudest accomplishment was raising her three sons, whose professional success is a testament to her love and devotion. Mrs. Zehmer is survived by her husband, John H. Zehmer; her three sons, Anthony A. Hirst, IV, Sean H. Zehmer and Alexander S. Zehmer; and her two granddaughters, Teagan Hirst and Tatiana Hirst.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida.

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.