Pat Summitt's Sister Linda Head Attebery Dies at 67

The sports world is mourning once again as the last living connection to Pat Summitt's immediate family has passed. Linda Head Attebery, the younger sister of legendary Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt, died on March 21, 2026, at age 67 at Ahava Healthcare in Clarksville, Tennessee. Her passing, reported by the Pat Summitt Foundation on March 22, marks the end of a generation — Linda was the last surviving sibling of one of basketball's most iconic figures.

Who Was Linda Head Attebery?

Linda Head Attebery lived a quiet, grounded life in the Clarksville, Tennessee area, far from the national spotlight that followed her famous sister. She worked for many years at Sunshine Cleaners in Ashland City, building a life rooted in community and family. Despite staying out of the public eye professionally, Linda was a proud and devoted supporter of her sister's legacy on the basketball court.

She is survived by her two children, Lindsey and Casey, and nine grandchildren — a family she cherished deeply. Over the years, Linda attended numerous Lady Vols games and remained connected to the Tennessee basketball community. As recently as the 2024-25 season, she was present at Tennessee's Lady Vols alumni weekend, a testament to her continued pride in Pat's enduring legacy.

Linda was preceded in death by siblings Tommy Head, Charles Head, Kenneth Head, and Pat Summitt herself, who passed away on June 28, 2016. With Linda's death, the Head family siblings are now all gone.

The Pat Summitt Foundation's Tribute

On March 22, 2026 — just one day after Linda's passing — the Pat Summitt Foundation posted a heartfelt tribute honoring her life. The foundation, which was established to raise awareness and fund research for Alzheimer's disease, has carried forward Pat Summitt's mission since the coach's death nearly a decade ago.

The tribute highlighted Linda's warmth, her loyalty to family, and her enduring presence in the Lady Vols community. According to reports covering the foundation's statement, Linda embodied the same fierce family values that defined the Head household — the values that shaped Pat Summitt into the coach and leader she became.

Graveside services for Linda Head Attebery are scheduled for March 24, 2026, at Mt. Carmel Methodist Cemetery in Clarksville, Tennessee, where friends, family, and members of the Lady Vols community are expected to gather and pay their respects.

Pat Summitt: A Legacy That Transcends Basketball

To understand why Linda's passing resonates so deeply, you have to understand who Pat Summitt was — and still is — to the world of sports and beyond.

Pat Summitt coached the University of Tennessee Lady Vols for 38 seasons, accumulating an extraordinary 1,098 career victories and eight national championships. She retired in 2012 as the all-time winningest coach in Division I college basketball history, a record that stood for years and cemented her place among the greatest coaches in any sport.

But Pat Summitt was more than wins and trophies. She was a pioneer for women's athletics, a fierce advocate for her players, and a transformative figure who elevated the profile of women's basketball at a time when it desperately needed a champion. Generations of young women were inspired not just to play the game, but to lead — in sports, in business, and in life.

In 2011, Pat Summitt publicly announced she had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. She handled the diagnosis with the same courage and directness that defined her coaching career, immediately channeling her platform into raising awareness about the disease. She passed away on June 28, 2016, after a five-year battle — but not before ensuring that her foundation would continue the fight. A new documentary has recently brought fresh attention to the unseen sides of Summitt's life and career, keeping her story alive for new audiences.

The Head Family: The Roots of a Legend

Pat Summitt was born Patricia Head on June 14, 1952, in Clarksville, Tennessee — the same community where Linda Head Attebery spent her life. The Head family was close-knit and hardworking, and Pat's siblings played a significant role in shaping her competitive spirit and relentless drive.

Growing up, Pat was surrounded by brothers — Tommy, Charles, and Kenneth — and her younger sister Linda. The family's values of hard work, toughness, and loyalty were instilled early, and those qualities became the hallmarks of Pat Summitt's coaching philosophy throughout her legendary career.

Linda, as the youngest sibling, held a unique place in that family story. She outlived all of her brothers and, for nearly a decade, carried the memory of her siblings — including Pat — as the last surviving member of that generation. Reports from Yahoo Sports noted that Linda's death closes a deeply personal chapter in the history of one of sports' most celebrated families.

Continuing Pat Summitt's Mission: The Fight Against Alzheimer's

Pat Summitt's legacy did not end with her death — it was transformed. The Pat Summitt Foundation has continued to grow as one of the most visible Alzheimer's research and advocacy organizations in the country, driven by the outpouring of love from the sports community and beyond.

Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 6.9 million Americans aged 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Pat Summitt used her platform to shine a light on a condition that affects millions of families quietly and privately. Her willingness to speak openly about her diagnosis helped reduce stigma and spurred increased public engagement with research funding efforts.

Linda Head Attebery's own life was touched by this mission — she watched her beloved sister fight the disease with grace, and she continued to show up for the Lady Vols community as a living reminder of where Pat came from. Her passing is a reminder to support the foundation's work in Pat's memory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Linda Head Attebery?

Linda Head Attebery was the younger sister of Pat Summitt, the legendary University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach. She passed away on March 21, 2026, at age 67 at Ahava Healthcare in Clarksville, Tennessee. She was the last surviving sibling of Pat Summitt.

When and where are Linda Head Attebery's funeral services?

Graveside services for Linda Head Attebery are being held on March 24, 2026, at Mt. Carmel Methodist Cemetery in Clarksville, Tennessee.

How many siblings did Pat Summitt have?

Pat Summitt had four siblings: brothers Tommy Head, Charles Head, and Kenneth Head, and her younger sister Linda Head Attebery. Linda was the last surviving sibling and passed away on March 21, 2026.

When did Pat Summitt die?

Pat Summitt passed away on June 28, 2016, after a five-year battle with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. She was 64 years old at the time of her death.

What is the Pat Summitt Foundation?

The Pat Summitt Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in Pat Summitt's name to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease and fund research toward finding a cure. The foundation posted a tribute to Linda Head Attebery on March 22, 2026, following her passing.

Conclusion

The death of Linda Head Attebery on March 21, 2026, is more than a family loss — it is the quiet closing of a chapter in one of sports history's most remarkable stories. As the last surviving sibling of Pat Summitt, Linda carried a living connection to the woman who changed women's basketball forever. She attended games, supported the community, and raised a family that will continue to carry the Head family name forward.

Pat Summitt's 1,098 wins, eight national championships, and 38 seasons of coaching are numbers that will never be forgotten. But behind those numbers was a family — the Head family of Clarksville, Tennessee — that gave the world one of its greatest coaches. With Linda's passing, we are reminded that the people behind the legends matter just as much as the legends themselves.

As the Lady Vols community and sports fans across the country reflect on Linda Head Attebery's life, her memory joins those of her siblings in the enduring legacy of a family that shaped greatness. May she rest in peace.