I learned of Linda (Jones) Thompson’s undeniable outside and inside beauty last year when her friends contacted me about “A Night for Linda,” a benefit they organized to help her with expenses, medical and otherwise.Linda, who served almost 10 years as secretary to the mayor of Akron, died Sunday following a March 16, 2010, diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. She was 62. That June 4, 2010, lovefest for Linda was the brainchild of longtime childhood friend Mary (Mason) Barnhart, who said:“Linda is a sweetheart. Someone who you can always talk to about anything. When you’re Linda’s friend, you’re her friend for life.”All who knew her — since childhood or later in life — felt the same loyalty. And she faced the shocking diagnosis as she did everything, with a strong faith, courage and grace.ALS is a rapid and relentless motor neuron disease for which there is no known cause or cure. It affects the person’s ability to walk, talk, swallow and eventually breathe.Linda was a dedicated member of Arlington Memorial Baptist Church and a devoted mother of two sons, Michael and Nick, mother-in-law to Stacy Thompson, and grandmother of three.Friends may call 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Newcomer Funeral Home, 131 N. Canton Road, Akron. The funeral is at 10 a.m. Saturday at Arlington Memorial Baptist Church, 2330 E. Market St., Akron.Memorials may be made to the ALS Association, 2500 E. 22nd St., Suite 102, Cleveland, 44115. Generous familyBig, beautiful bouquets to Akron’s Rodney and Vikki Shadie who were mentioned in my Oct. 17 column about the importance of organ donation. The Shadies’ son Rodney Jr. received a liver transplant when he was 22 months old. Then, when he was 7 years old and his time was up, his parents made the decision to donate his organs and tissues so others could enjoy the gift of life.Kathy Seward Norman, administrative house manager at Akron’s Ronald McDonald House, commented about yet another generous aspect of the Shadies:“As you state, what a wonderful family they are. They started donating dinners to the Ronald McDonald House of Akron on May 5, 2004, (one year after the death of Little Rod) in loving memory of their son. Another fine example of how this family gives back to the community.“They started out donating on the anniversary date each year. The last couple of years they’ve picked up a second date too, that is random. They always provide a big, delicious meal that feeds 40-45 folks (families staying at the House whose critically ill children are patients at Akron Children’s Hospital) — everything from salad, main course, sides and dessert. What a gift!”Successful transitionIn my Oct. 8 column I featured two Hudson families, the Silvestros and the Burkes, who have opened their homes and hearts to three young people who were orphaned in 1994 during the civil war/genocide in Rwanda, the small east Africa nation. They’re happily enrolled at Our Lady of the Elms High School in Akron and Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls.And now for the follow-up as shared by Mike Gladstone, director of development at Walsh:“I want to inform you that Pacifique Niyonzima was voted the male representative of the Homecoming Court for the junior class at Walsh Jesuit. The ceremonies took place at halftime of the school’s football game against Benedictine on Friday, Oct. 14.”Wheels for great causeChristine Wilmoth is hoping for a huge turnout for a very special event next month.“My cousin Amy Rowan is a single, 35-year-old mom to a wonderful little boy named Sean, who is 5. “Amy loves cats, Dukes of Hazzard, playing board games, Twilight and anything New Kids on the Block. But most of all she loves her son. Sean has a smile that can light up a room. He likes Winnie the Pooh books, Scooby Doo, going to the zoo, and hanging out with his mom. He also has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. Every time they go anywhere Amy has to carry Sean out to the car, then take his wheelchair apart and put it in her car and trunk. “This is quite an ordeal and is only going to get harder for Amy as Sean gets older. My wish is to get a wheelchair van for her to use.”Friends have organized “Wheels for Sean,” 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Lakemore Municipal Building, 1400 Main St., Lakemore, with lots of raffles and shopping (Tastefully Simple, Pure Romance, Miche Bags, Rae’s Jewelry, Avon and more). Raffle items are still being sought. For more information, please call Christine Wilmoth at 330-354-6108 or email her at bellainoz22@gmail.comA Wheels for Sean fund has been set up at FirstMerit Bank (any branch).Akron’s Wade honoredHeartfelt congratulations to Akron’s Eugene Wade who is among six Northeast Ohioans named MTVs — Most Treasured Volunteers — by the Human Services Institute of the Center for Community Solutions. Wade, who volunteers for Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit & Medina Counties, is described in the award nomination:“Truly ‘a man in a woman’s world,’ Gene Wade makes time every week to show the women and children in shelters of the Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit & Medina Counties that someone cares about them, showing them the respect and compassion that may have been lacking from the men in their lives.“For 15 years, he has provided nonjudgemental support, treating every task as of the utmost importance — from opening the door, to making up a bed for a new client, to chasing skunks and squirrels away. He is the ‘go-to-guy’ for new male staff and volunteers, sometimes even filling in for sick employees. Gene’s humor and contagious happiness bring calm to tense situations. His philosophy is, ‘If I can influence one person to be a better, more loving person, then my life has not been in vain.’ There is no question that Gene uses his life to bless others.”Help for stroke victimFriends and family of Mary Cavileer are hosting a benefit with dinner, drinks and live jazz featuring Danny Mazzocco and Friends from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Nov. 4 at St. Sebastian’s Zwisler Hall, 476 Mull Ave., Akron.The event, “Mary Cavileer’s Miraculous Recovery,” is to assist with the medical costs of her rehabilitation since suffering a stroke.Reservations required by Oct. 27 and the cost is $20. Make checks payable to Mary Cavileer Benefit Fund, 1491 Jefferson Ave., Akron, 44313. For reservations, please call 330-608-7255 or email cavileer.3@osu.edu. Benefit spaghetti dinner Mobile Meals Inc. is serving a benefit spaghetti dinner 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Archbishop Hoban High School, 1 Holy Cross Blvd., Akron, with proceeds going to assist children, disabled and elderly residents who are unable to pay.Cost is $6 presale; $6.50 at the door. Please call 330-376-7717 or 1-800-852-6325. Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.