Linda Pogue Schwertman Liles

Linda Pogue Schwertman Liles, lifetime educator, loyal colleague, champion baker, friend to many, beloved wife, sister, mother, and grandmother passed away on February 13, 2025. She was born in New York City on April 17, 1953 to Elmer Chester Schwertman, and Mary Pogue Tyree “Dee” Schwertman. Her family moved to Raleigh, NC in 1954, when her father took a position at St. Augustine’s College. She is predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Billy Liles, her brother Chris Schwertman, her children Simon Melcher, Corey Liles, and Emma Liles, their companions Betsy Melcher, Stuart Smith, and Dylan Bevelander, and by her grandchildren Eli Melcher, Maggie Melcher, Poppy Melcher, and Felicity Liles.

Linda had a long career teaching English as a Second Language, first at Oberlin (formerly Daniels) Middle School in Raleigh and later at Reedy Creek Middle School in Cary. For many years, she was a trainer at the North Carolina Teacher Academy. She was active in various professional organizations, such as the Wake County NC Association of Educators and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). From age thirteen, she was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh (UUFR), where she later served in many roles within the UU community.

Linda loved her work, her students, her colleagues, her UU community, and most importantly, her family. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

A memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at UUFR, 3313 Wade Avenue, Raleigh, NC. The service will also be live-streamed on UUFR’s YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@UUFRaleigh/streams

Memorial contributions can be sent to the Bryant Community Engagement Center Fund at UUFR. https://uufr.org/collection-for-bryant-community-engagement-center/