Willie Mae Strickland

Obituary

Willie Mae Bowden Strickland 74, departed this life peacefully on Tuesday, August 27, 2019. She was surrounded by her loving family.

On January 15, 1945 Willie Mae was born to the late Leroy and Katie Harris Bowden in Randolph County, NC. She was the oldest of seven children. She was educated in the Chatham County School System, and graduated from Chatham High School in 1963. She attended Central Carolina Technical College in Sanford, NC and received a certificate in Secretarial Science. She had an everlasting marriage to Donald Strickland. To this union, two children were born, who will cherish and embody her memory forever. 

She joined Rocky River Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. Later she joined her husband and children at First Missionary Baptist Church where she was a very active member. She served the church faithfully in the following positions: Trustee Board, Finance Committee, Deaconess Board Vice Chairperson and she served as the Church Treasure for thirty years until her death.  She was an active member of Friendship Chapter #521, Order of Eastern Star until the decline in her health.

She was a 30 year breast cancer survivor and counseled many other survivors that desired her strength and determination to fight such an unpleasant disease.  She was an avid supporter of Relay for Life, which is an event held by the American Cancer Society. She loved gardening, shopping and spending time with her family. She considered herself the matriarch of our family. To her family she was a loving and supportive mother, sister, aunt and cousin. To anyone else she was a loyal friend and confidant. She retired from Quality Molded Products after 23 years where her co-workers became family.

She leaves to cherish her memory: a loving and devoted husband of 54 years Donald Strickland, two children, Carla Strickland and Donald Strickland Jr. (fiancé Shonda) of Siler City, NC;  six sibling: Larry Bowden (Pat), Sandra Higgins (Doug), Carolyn Nesi (Marc) of Greensboro, NC; Ricky Bowden (Ann) of Burlington, NC; Laura Headen (Ken) and Tammy Moffitt (Larry) from Siler City, NC; she was MeMaw to two grandchildren who she loved with all her heart; Jarrell Strickland and Cha’nessi Frazier of Siler City, NC and her “special” grandson Jordan Matthews. She loved and adored all of her nieces and nephews who called her Aunt Puddin.  She will be missed greatly by her best friend of over fifty years, Elizabeth Moffitt. She also leaves to cherish her memory are her cousins who she loved dearly.

~ Mom/MeMaw ~

God saw you getting tired
And a cure was not to be
So He put His arms around you
And whispered,
“Come to Me”

With tearful eyes we watched you
And saw you pass away
And although we loved you dearly
We could not make you stay.

A Golden heart stopped beating
Hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove

He Only Takes The Best.

We Love you!

Carla, Donnie, Jarrell & Cha’nessi

Family being served by Knotts and Son-Siler City

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