Mrs. Rita June Strickland of Wrightsville, Georgia, passed away on Thursday, August 1, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. She was 74 years old. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 8, at 11:00a.m. at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with burial to follow at the church cemetery per her wishes.
Rita was born June 18, 1945 in Wrightsville to the delight of her parents, Miriam Lee tingle and George Melbourne Page, older brother George and grandparents and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. As a child she enjoyed reading up in the trees near her father’s general store and playing with her Tingle and Page cousins. After her mother’s passing in 1957 she and her father and brother moved to Lakeland, Florida where Rita soon met her beloved husband, Jay Strickland. Jay and Rita wed on June 28, 1962 in Lakeland where they lived for over 40 years until retiring to Wrightsville to be close to Rita’s dear cousins and friends.
Rita is survived by her adoring husband of fifty-seven years, Jay; her five children: Amanda Wolfe (Kevin), George Strickland, Diane Swift (Jerry), Martha Mather(Adam), and Mary Butner (Tom); Ten grandchildren: Becky Scholten (Bryan), Kelly Jones (Luke), Ashli Gilliam (Doug), Emily Ellis, Aaron Swift (Krystle), Nathan Swift, Lewis Mather, Abigail Mather, Mara Stevens (Alex) and Riley Tidwell (Kimana); 13 great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn Scholten, Ty Scholten, Jameson Jones, Ava Jones, and Declan Jones, Emma Holliman, Huntley Holliman, Weston Holliman, Colt Gilliam and Ali Claire Gilliam, Zachary Swift, Elliot Swift and Dalayana Tidwell; As well as many, many loving and very special cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
A viewing and visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 from 5 to 7p.m. at May and Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville, Georgia.
A memorial service will be held in Lakeland, Florida on August 31st at 2p.m. at TBA Church, 1815 East County Road 540-A, Lakeland, Florida.
Rita was a selfless role model, showing love, kindness, generosity and faith in her daily actions. We will always carry her in our hearts.
May and Smith Funeral Directors has charge of these arrangements.