Rev. Linda Hanna Walling has been the Executive Directorof Hope Station since July 2012. She moved to Wilson from Ohio to join herhusband, Rev.
Gary Walling, who became the new Senior Minister of FirstChristian Church in January of that year. He retired from that position in 2022, and Linda hopes to retire soon.
As an ordained minister in the Christian Church(Disciples of Christ), Linda has served in educational, mission, and musicministries in Texas, Georgia, and Ohio. She has served on her denomination’snational governing Board and its Executive Committee; chaired its Division ofHigher Education, and presided as Moderator of Southwest Region, which includedTexas and New Mexico.
Linda was born and raised in Florida, but graduated fromBarton College in
1972 (when it was still called Atlantic Christian College). She remained in Wilson a year followinggraduation to work at First Christian Church, and then went to seminary atBrite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, where she graduated with aMaster of Divinity Degree in 1976.
While she doesn’t have the time to do much of either,Linda enjoys gardening and scrapbooking. She hopes to try her hand at stained glass when she retires.
Linda and her husband have two grown children, both ofwhom are married.
Kristen lives in Washington, DC and works ininternational women’s rights, and their son, Ryan, lives in Denver, Co, andworks in the electric car industry.