Ashley Williams ’ newest Hallmark project, Falling Together , is “directly” from her “heart” — and serves as a love letter to her late mother, Linda . Williams, 45, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, September 18, that the character Linda Payne, played by Linda Kash , was created to pay homage to her mom, who died seven years ago after battling Alzheimer’s over the course of 12 years. “My mom worked for the Michael J.
Fox Foundation really successfully. She was an incredible community organizer and fundraiser for a cause she really believed in,” Williams explained. “So [our writer] Adam [Kulbersh] had this idea to create a character who worked with the Alzheimer’s Association who we really modeled after my mother.
” In Falling Together , Natalie (Williams) tries to bring her feuding neighbors together after moving to Philadelphia. Along the way, Natalie volunteers for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and befriends the lead organizer, Linda, who is suffering from the disease. With a little help from her building super, Mark ( Paul Campbell ), Natalie learns what she needs in life — and how to help others, even if they don’t want it.
Williams revealed that as Natalie is lending a hand at the Alzheimer’s Association office, she notices three photos on the wall — which are nods to real people who have passed away from memory diseases . (According to the Mayo Clinic , Alzheimer’s is a disorder that causes memory loss and deterioration of the bra.