Walter Roland Strickland

Father-Grandfather-Uncle-Brother-Educator-Musician-Confidant-Friend

Walter's funeral service will be virtual through the Zoom platform. Please copy and paste the link into a Chrome Browser to view the services on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Click https://ccsj.zoom.us/j/2142495141 to start or join a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Walter Roland Strickland was born in Chicago IL. He grew up with his parents, Robert Earl Strickland and Lorraine Drain Strickland, and his older brother, Stanley and his younger sisters Alma and Ethel on Chicago’s southside. He participated in the local Boy Scout troop as an adolescent and was active in his neighborhood Drum & Bugle Corp as a bugler. Walter graduated from Morgan Park High School in 1949 and while there was active in high school sports as a football running back and also set relay records with his track team. Walter was a gifted trumpet musician and sat in the first trumpet chair in the Morgan Park HS Band. He earned his B.A. degree in Instrumental Music with Cum Laude Honors in 1953 from Texas College (T.C.), a Christian HBCU located in Tyler, TX . While matriculating at Texas College he was initiated into the Beta Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and was elected Kappa Polemarch (president) of his Chapter. In each of his college years Walter performed with the band, sang in perfect pitch with the T.C. chorus, and served as Class President.

Walter married his Texas College sweetheart Belvia J. Tyiska who was a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Inc. This union was blessed with three children, whom they raised in Chicago: Sharon; Rolanda, and Walter Robert (Bobby). Walter and Belvia encouraged them to develop their talents to achieve higher education degrees. Walter made the well-being of his family his priority. At the time of his passing, he had witnessed six grandchildren prosper significantly, while growing the Strickland family with a total of 14 children of their own. They affectionately called him “Pops”. During Walter’s adult life he supported his aging parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and cousins. He invested his time, financial resources, and energy in uplifting his grand-children, nieces, and nephews as well. He assisted all of them in any way he could and provided wise counsel when needed.

Walter Roland Strickland was versatile and had a career that was enhanced by the “Strickland Mystique” which he inherited from his ancestors. The Chicago Public Schools were fortunate to have him join their ranks as a “Superior” instructor of instrumental music. He taught at several CPS secondary schools including Carver, Phillips, and Orr high schools. Walter demanded that his disciplined students respect his value for excellence.

Walter was proud of the time he spent working with other organizations as well. His job titles included Youth Director of the Washington Park Y.M.C.A.; Executive Director of the Metropolitan Circle Maxwell Y.M.C.A.; Project Director of the Chicago Committee on Urban Opportunity; Senior Consultant of the Manpower Assistance Project; Development Specialist of the Chicago Urban League and the Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (A.A.C.M). These jobs afforded Walter the opportunity to showcase his skills while he implemented policies that expanded resources, reduced administrative costs and exceeded corporate goals of the enterprises with which he was affiliated. He had a knack for keeping cool under pressure which, as a manager, instilled commitment, and improved morale for his staff, his peers, and his superiors. Walter believed success was fueled by the ability to “Step Up” and consistently persevere.

For many years Walter could be found managing the musical instrument service department at the Austin Music Store, then located in Oak Park, IL. When he retired from CPS in 1996, he had more time to practice and play his beloved silver-plated trumpet. His music career and versatile music talent placed him in many different venues in the Chicago area. Any fan of live music entertainment might hear him play with a band, performing with SunRa, or performing at the Jazz Showcase, the Annual Chicago African-Arts Festival, the Morgan Park Roots Band or in a church orchestra playing the trumpet solo in a Choral Production of Handel’s Messiah. Walter was fluent in conversational Spanish which was required while he was a featured artist with Latin Bands in the 1950’s & 60’s using the stage name of “Waltero Rolando”. In later years he performed on local and international stages with Haitian bands, jazz bands, and with R&B, blues, and soul artists.

In his twilight years, Walter lived with his partner, Maureen Lamas. They became contented residents of the Smith Village Retirement Community located on the southside of Chicago. Also left to treasure his memory are his sisters Alma Battle and Ethel Thomas both of Chicago, IL; his children, eldest daughter Attorney, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Sharon Strickland Williams of Chicago, IL, Rolanda Hudson [Rev. Charles] of South Boston, VA, and Walter Robert (Bobby) Strickland, Sr. [Sibyl] of Bakersfield, CA, their mother Belvia Tyiska Strickland of Chicago, IL. Cherishing his memory will be his grandchildren Tiffaney Taylor [David] of Dayton, OH; Jeffrey L. Stone, II [Tracy] of Chicago, IL, Walter R. Strickland, II [Stephanie] of Rolesville, NC; Latice Spann [Justin] of Orlando, FL, J. Sterling Williams [Faith] of Chicago, IL, and Jarrett Williams [Donna Joy] of Delray Beach, FL, and his fourteen great grandchildren. Many more nieces, nephews, and cousins, and a host of special friends, former colleagues and students, and members of the music community will miss him as well and will help keep his memory alive. Walter Strickland was pre-deceased by his parents Robert and Lorraine and his brother Stanley.

His family is assured that since Walter had re-committed his life to Jesus Christ, by grace his soul triumphs with angelic wings in an eternal state of heavenly paradise.