Linda Lesslie Campagna

Mrs. Linda Lesslie Campagna, 80, of Lowesville, passed away Sunday, June 16th at Abernethy Laurels. She is predeceased by her brother David Owen Lesslie (2014). Linda Margaret Lesslie was born on October 3, 1943 in Rowan County to the late John Nathaniel Lesslie and Helen Trexler Lesslie. Her father was known as Professor Cheerwine, the chemist who reformulated the Salisbury, NC-based cherry soft drink when their flavor supplier seized manufacturing. Her mother was a homemaker and worked as a book keeper for Carolina Electronics in Salisbury. Linda attended Rowan Salisbury schools and was a graduate of Boyden High School. She went on to attend Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, where she met Leonard “Lenny” Campagna, her husband of 62 years. Their first date was a basketball game with another couple. They eloped to South Carolina in 1962 and honeymooned later in New Orleans, LA, where they shared a fondness for good food, music, and fun. 

 Linda loved friendships and family, opportunities to talk, entertain, travel, laugh and drink her favorite, Manhattan. She made all around her feel comfortable and welcome. She loved music and was an accomplished pianist. You would often find her in her piano room playing show tunes, classical or songs that Leonard would sing while she played. In her earlier years, she played organ for Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, NC and was a member of their gourmet club where they enjoyed international themed dinners once a month. Linda loved games; be it Rummikub, playing cards, and Monopoly with her grandkids. She was a competitive bridge player and a member of the Lake Norman Bridgettes, among other bridge groups, where she made great friends and enjoyed spending time in her community. 

 Throughout the years, Linda and her family played tennis. After Len had a heart attack on the tennis court, she began playing golf with him, joining league play at local clubs and traveling to play together in the NC mountains and coast. Linda was addicted to Outlander, Game of Thrones, and Fox News. She was a devoted grandmother traveling up the East Coast to Pennsylvania and Massachusetts for countless soccer games, theatrical performances, and holidays. 

 She, Len, and their family traveled. From Italy to visit Len’s family to Scotland and Ireland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Spain, Portugal, and river cruises in Europe. Linda loved New York City, Broadway shows, restaurants and on her last trip walked the High-Line. She enjoyed trips to unique places in the US, like the Salton Sea and Coachella Valley, where she had her first date-flavored milkshake and the Pacific Northwest. The family enjoyed adult trips together to Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Ocean Isle Beach, NC, Pine Knolls Shore, NC, Lynchburg, VA and Sea Island, GA. 

 Mrs. Campagna worked in educational sales in retail store management as well as with her husband at Living & Learning, and eventually retired from Scholastic Book Fairs, where she was an account representative working with Western NC schools. She was an avid reader and loved sharing her passion for books with her grandchildren.

 Linda cared deeply for her country and community but was humble about recognition. She was an active patriot, voting in every election. She was a committed member of Unity Presbyterian Church, and in her retirement, she served as a Guardian Ad Litem with Lincoln County where she helped countless children find safe and loving homes. She was recognized for her work both by the county and locally. She also supported her senior community, organizing events and luncheons that brought hundreds together to break bread and enjoy music. Mrs. Campagna helped establish Amy’s Closet, a non-profit retail boutique created to benefit victims of domestic violence in Denver in 2013. She helped recruit and manage volunteers for 10 years. She was passionate about helping others.

 Linda is survived by her loving husband, Leonard Christopher Campagna (Len); daughter Dana Campagna Lanham and husband Todd Lanham of Sherborn, MA and their children, Morgan Lesslie and Cooper Todd; son Christopher Vincent Campagna (Chris) and wife Nina Ashford Campagna of Landenberg, PA and their sons, Duncan Paul, Holden Jay and Martin Shaw; sister Rebecca Lesslie Overton (Becky) and husband James Overton (Jim) and their children, James Jr, Lesslie Duncan, and Allison Sherwood; and her sister-in-law, Edith Shell Lesslie, widow of David Owen Lesslie of Welcome, NC, along with her sons “Mitchell” Brian Lesslie and Randall “Scott” Lesslie. 

 Linda Lesslie Campagna, “Linda,” “Honey,” “Meemaw,” and “MeMe” will be greatly missed, but was welcomed into heaven on June 16, 2024, where she joined her mother Helen, father John and brother David. 

 A special thank you to the pastors and members of Unity Presbyterian Church for their support and care of Linda and family throughout Linda’s journey back to Christ. 

Arrangements: A Celebration of Life for Linda will be held at Unity Presbyterian Church later this summer to accommodate traveling family. Details to follow.

Condolences: 

Len Campagna

7313 Sedgebrook Drive West, Stanley, NC 28164

lctimes2@aol.com

(704) 578-2206 

Memorial Donations may be made to the following: 

Amy’s Closet: https://lincolncounty-cadv.org/amys-house/amys-closet/

1584B Highway 16 (Business), Denver, NC 28037 

(704) 483-5515 

Camp Joy: https://campjoy.net/camps/nc/ 

918 S Pleasantburg Dr

Suite 127 Greenville SC 29607

(864) 232-8297

COPD Foundation: https://www.copdfoundation.org/

3300 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Miami, FL 33134

(866) 731-2673