Keith Allen Strickland, age 60, of Wadley peacefully passed away at his home while surrounded by family and friends on Sunday, October 24, 2021. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 30 in the May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Mark Jones and Mr. David Harris will officiate. The family will greet friends from 11:00 A.M. until the hour of service at the funeral home.
Mr. Strickland was a native of Washington County, the son of Harry Eugene Strickland and the late Mary Ann Alexander Strickland. Keith graduated from the Columbia High School and soon relocated to Tennille to begin work at Thiele Kaolin Company. He would later move to Lake City and began a career in the timber industry. Mr. Strickland would meet and married his first wife, Carole. They birthed two children, Lindsey and Sean Strickland. Throughout his working careers, Keith was employed by multiple timber businesses in various positions until his advancing to sales and purchasing. During this period of life, he met Shelia, his second wife and love of his life. Mr. Strickland and Shelia had one daughter, Elizabeth Strickland. Keith and his family would relocate to the Tampa, Florida area, where he would work as a salesman for Sunray Marine Boat Sales and Service. He was an avid outdoors-man and regarded as an expert hunter and fisherman. Mr. Strickland took great pride in sharing his knowledge and expertise with others. In 2017, Keith returned to Wadley to live closer to his aging parents. He was known by all as a kind and generous person. Mr. Strickland was the life of the party, never meeting a stranger and was always willing to help those who were less fortunate. Keith’s “larger-than-life” personality drew others to him and enabled them to build life-long friendships. He was a loving, selfless individual always placing the needs of his family first. Mr. Strickland will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his wife, Shelia Lee Strickland of Wadley; children, Lindsey Kale Strickland and Sean Alexander Strickland both of Lake City, Florida, and Elizabeth Ann Strickland of Wadley; stepchildren, Kyle Black of Sandersville, and Daniel Anderson and Samantha Anderson Burrows both of Altus, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Mackenzie Phelan, Charles Phelan, Mattie Anderson, and Brentlee Burrows; father, Harry E. Strickland of Tennille; sisters, Lori Anne Clark and her husband Bradley of Statham and Kathy Barker and her husband Dan of Sandersville; nieces and nephews, Clay Barker, Grace Barker, Kristina Jackson, and Steven Ebelsheiser; and numerous members of his extended family.
The family will be at the Strickland Residence on West Calhoun Street in Wadley.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.