Cecil H. Strickland

Cecil Henry Strickland has gone home to our Heavenly Father.  He passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023 at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, Tennessee. 

He leaves behind his loving wife, Linda Kay Strickland, daughter: Dorothy Fisher, daughter Liza Copeland and her husband Stephen Copeland, stepdaughters Mindy Owens and her husband Anthony Owens, and Miranda Dotson.  Also, he sure loved his companion and his emotional support dog, Lollipop.  He will also be missed by his grandchildren: Steve Fisher, Lisa Thompson, Ashleigh Quinn and husband Anthony Quinn, Landon Frame-Dotson, great-grandchildren: Kayla Fisher, Kyle Fisher, Evan Fisher, Jacob Thompson, Amanda Thompson, Allyson Thompson, Ayden Quinn, Anzleigh Quinn, Presley Quinn, and Ace Quinn, and finally the only surviving sibling Mary White. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Mae Hendry Strickland & Raleigh Strickland Sr., siblings Ruth Bevill, Edna Sorrow, Raleigh Strickland Jr., Ralph Strickland, George Strickland, Robert Strickland, Elizabeth Strickland, Mildred Andrews, Rosa Lee Kortis, Gorden Strickland, David Jordan, Freda Bazemore, son-in-law: Melvin Fisher, as well as, his son Anthony “Tony” A. Strickland and ex-wife Mercedes L. Strickland. 

Cecil was born in Savannah, Georgia and was the eleventh of fourteen children.  Because his mother was a single parent, she had Cecil live at the Bethesda Home for Boys in the Savannah area at the tender age of nine years old.  He emancipated himself at age 17 and joined the Navy and served for twenty years, working as an aircraft mechanic.  He retired as an E-7 (Chief Petty Officer).   He was a Vietnam Veteran as well.  He continued working for the United States government as a civil service employee for the next twenty-eight years for the Department of Defense, inspecting specialized aircraft weaponry in the Air Force.  He traveled the world for his jobs to be able to take off his family.  His last assignment as a civil service contractor was at Stennis Space Center for NASA until he retired at the age of 65 with a rank of GS-12. 

He worked as a part-time bus driver for the disabled children. There was nothing Cecil could not fix or install!  He built from scratch, car and motorcycle engines with his son, Tony.  Friends and acquaintances would ask him to come over to their homes to fix their washing machine or dishwasher.  Cecil was even a great carpenter.  He built his first home in Pensacola where it still stands today.   He always gave his service to his community, family, and friends.  He became close with the Amish Community by fixing sewing machines where he lived in Ethridge Tennessee.  He ate at Leoma Café, a favorite local hangout, and would pay for meals for anyone who was in need of a good meal. 

His generosity expounded throughout his life, dedicating time, energy, and money for his family, church and his community. Cecil served in multiple capacities in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He always put God first.  Cecil’s greatest passion was serving his family.  He loved his wife tremendously, enjoying their time together in Branson, Missouri and at the Smoky Mountains. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather and will be sorely missed.

He left a huge legacy that will be hard to follow.  No funeral or memorial will take place per Cecil’s wishes.  If you would like to make a donation to the Leoma Cafe call 931-852-2038 or you can donate to the K9 for Warriors at www.donate.k9sforwarriors.org.