Linda Cederberg Hutchinson-Harmon

Linda Cederberg Hutchinson-Harmon, of Charlotte, NC, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 17, 2025, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Linda was born in Brooklyn, NY, on March 29, 1946, to Larry Cederberg and Vivian Siverson Cederberg. After graduating from Wheaton High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, she attended the University of Maryland, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Education. After graduation, she taught in Virginia Beach, VA. Later, she moved to North Carolina, where she earned her M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Throughout her life, Linda was a dedicated and caring educator. She was the Director of the Providence United Methodist Church Weekday School and taught in a variety of schools in Charlotte, NC, including the Fletcher School. Linda was a professor at Central Piedmont Community College, UNC-Charlotte, and Winthrop University. She served as Director of the Macfeat Early Childhood Laboratory School in Rock Hill, SC, for seven years. One of Linda’s favorite positions was as co-director of Central Child Development Center in Rock Hill, where she worked for over nine years. Later, she worked as a consultant for the Mary Black Foundation in Spartanburg, SC, as well as for First Steps of Chester County and Lancaster County in South Carolina. Linda was also a longstanding member of the UNC School of Education Alumni Council.

More than anything else, Linda loved spending time with her family – particularly with her six grandchildren. Linda always showed up for a visit with new books, arts and crafts supplies, and the greatest gift of all: her time. She relished any opportunity to babysit and was always up for an adventure at the park, pool, or mall – with the express goal of tiring her grandchildren out and giving their parents a much-needed break! Over the course of the past 25 years, Linda taught her grandchildren how to cross-stitch, tie their shoes, shuffle cards, and play poker. These “life skills” will be appreciated for years to come.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Donna Cederberg; and her brother, John Cederberg. She is survived by her beloved husband, John Harmon; her daughters, Karen H. Ridout (husband, Tyler) and Ellen H. Johnson (husband, Carter), all of Charlotte, NC; stepchildren, Kathryn F. Erskine (husband, Matt) of Arlington, VA, and Stefan Ferraro (wife, Stephanie) of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada; and six grandchildren: Caroline Ridout; Leia Johnson; Avery, Anna, and Matthew Erskine; and Ayla Ferraro. She is also survived by her brother, Steve Cederberg (wife, Mary) of Rocky Mount, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association-Western Carolina Chapter, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209, or online at www.alz.org.

The family would like to thank the care team at The Sanctuary-Cotillion, and Lindsay Kievit at Caregiving Corner, for their wonderful care and support of Linda and her family.