Joyce Dawson Strickland

Memorial services will be Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at Gadsden First United Methodist Church (in the chapel) for Joyce Dawson Strickland, 89 of Gadsden, who passed away Monday, September 15, 2014. Rev. Ken Casey and Rev. Harvey Beck will officiate. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, AL. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is directing.

Mrs. Strickland was raised in Montgomery, AL and lived there until her marriage to Willie Charles Strickland in 1941. After living in Auburn, AL they moved to Gadsden in 1950, where they became very active at Gadsden First United Methodist Church. Mrs. Strickland was a member of the First United Methodist Women, where she held many offices. She taught kindergarten in the Sunday School Department for at least twenty-five years. She loved being a member of the Red Bud Garden Club, where she also held many positions overseeing neighborhood projects. Her many bridge clubs brought much joy, as being with her friends was always a special and happy time.

She was preceded in death by her husband Willie Charles Strickland; mother, Rosa Gay Dawson; and sister, Clementine Dawson Borland.

Mrs. Strickland is survived by her daughter, Susan Strickland (Keith) Copeland of Gadsden; sister, Helen Dawson Mixon of Florida; nieces, Sandra Mixon Barrett of Florida, Deborah Borland Koppang of Oregon, Beth Strickland Broach of NC and Norma Gay Borland Spiller of Mobile, AL; nephews, Edwin Burns Mixon, Jr. of Florida, and James L. Strickland of Montgomery, AL; and many grandnieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers will be Morris Friendship Sunday School Class; Phillip D. Owen, Walter Duke, Forrest Hinton, Todd Rains, Roger Laney, Dan Copeland, Jr., Whit Tobert, and Larry Bledsoe.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Gadsden First United Methodist Church General Budget or 20/20 Vision fund.

Special thanks to our wonderful sitters, Kathy, Cassidy, Sallie, Tina, Melody and Wendi for giving loving care these last years; and Gentiva Hospice nurses and staff.

The family will accept friends from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Thursday at the church prior to the service.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.