Dorothy "Mama Dot" Lee (Franklin) Strickland

Dorothy Lee “Mama Dot” Strickland, age 92, from Cary, NC, was called home to be with the Lord on October 16th, 2025. She passed peacefully. Her sons were with her. Dot was born in Raleigh NC on September 30, 1933, to Viola Cooper and William Hurley Franklin, and spent most of her life in Cary.

Dot had a rewarding career as an Administrative Assistant in the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety and the Department of Administrative Hearings within the NC State Government. As part of her role within Crime Control, she worked closely with the National Guard, Veterans Affairs, and the Highway Patrol. Dot was renowned for her dedication and professionalism. While working for the State Government, Dot became involved in politics and was very active in Jim Hunt’s gubernatorial campaign. She typed many of Governor Hunt’s speeches and made routine trips to the Governor’s Mansion. She thrived in that environment.

For the past 10 years Dot had an even more fulfilling career helping to nurture 6 great-grandchildren, or as she referred to them, “My Babies”. During her last 3 years of life Dot was unable to spend as much time with them as her health failed; however, her desire to return to caring for them continuously motivated her to overcome her medical challenges. When Dot was with the grandkids, regardless of her health, there was always a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye.

Dot’s favorite hobby was sitting on the deck at the beach, or the deck in her backyard if she couldn’t get to the beach, with a good book by Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson, or Mary Higgins Clark and a glass of Radius Merlot. She attended White Plains Methodist Church with her best friend, Joan Long.

Dot was preceded in death by her parents, Viola and Hurley, and her beloved brother William Franklin. She is survived by her loving sisters Frances Pearson, Ruth Curlee, and Carolyn Sutton. Dot has two sons, Stan (Bruce) and Stuart, who live in Cary. Stan and his wife, Karen, have a son, Brandon, and a daughter, Kristi, who live in Holly Springs and Apex, respectively. Brandon and Meghan have two daughters, Charlie and Ryan. Kristi and Jon have 4 children, Kelly, Joshua, Bradley, and Theo. Stuart and his wife Katie have two sons. Jeff and Rachel live in Los Angeles, and Jake and Sonia live in Morrisville.

The family requests that memorials in her memory go to Transitions Life Care at Transitionslifecare.org or 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Dot’s life will be honored through a Visitation at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary on Saturday, October 25th, from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM. A Celebration of Life Service will follow on Sunday, October 26th, at 2 PM at the same location.