FARMINGTON – An avid advocate for disabled people died Monday at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

Linda Mills, 53, of Farmington suffered from a condition that confined her to a wheelchair. Her apparent limitations did not stop her from accomplishing much for people who shared her challenges, according to friends and colleagues.

Mills graduated from Mt. Blue High School in 1970 and earned her bachelor’s degree in rehabilitative services from the University of Maine Farmington in 1998.

She spoke as a lobbyist to the state legislature and senate about issues related to the disabled. She served on several committees including the state Rehabilitation Committee for which she was appointed by the governor.

She volunteered in a multitude of ways, including at the hospital, teaching in local schools and providing support to adolescents.

Betty Hill drove Mills where she needed to go and provided personal care.

“She was just a great person, she was so smart,” said Hill Friday before Mills’ funeral.

“It’s just amazing,” she continued. “I learned something from her everyday.”

Hill described Mills’ high school education, saying she had a “black box” at home so she could hear what was going on in school and would call if she had questions. She only knew about five other students and saw her entire class for the first time when she was wheeled up to receive her diploma, Hill said.

The champion for the disabled probably “made half of Farmington accessible,” Hill said.

“I learned a lot from Linda that helped me with my son,” who had had a stroke at 32, she added.

Mills worked as a program coordinator and resource specialist in Farmington for Maine Independent Living Services, a nonprofit organization that served those with disabilities.

According Dale Finseth, former executive director for the nonprofit, Mills was the primary contact in western Maine. She coordinated a peer training and support program training those with disabilities how to live more independently.

“Linda was a woman of strong convictions but the nicest woman you could ever meet,” said Finseth. “She never wanted to fight with anybody but was in a position where she had to fight for everything. You didn’t want to be on the wrong side of the table from Linda,” he added. “She knew what she wanted.”

Finseth said the funeral, held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Farmington on Friday, was standing room only. It was upbeat and what she was about, he said.

“Linda would have liked it,” he said.