Obituary of Mary Joyce Strickland

Funeral services for Mary Joyce Strickland, age 83, of Newell will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at 2:00 PM from Union Baptist Church with Rev. Ed Halsey officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery with Benefield Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4:30-8:00 PM on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Mrs. Strickland will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to services beginning on Wednesday. Due to an extended illness, Mrs. Strickland went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 24, 2017, at her home surrounded by her family. Survivors include: two daughters, Jan Howard and Carla Boyd (husband, Randall), both of Newell; four sons, Charles Taylor (wife, Linda), Kenny Taylor, Danny Taylor, and Dusty Taylor, all of Newell; one stepson, Ronnie Strickland (wife, Sue) of Talladega; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Charlie Kennedy, Mike Tranum, Ed Sloman, Ray Alewine, Randy Camp and Michael McCurdy. Honorary pallbearers will be Brent Vohun and Ricklen Tucker. A Randolph County native, Mrs. Strickland was born on July 13, 1933, the daughter of John Jacob and Ruby Leta Hallmark Stillwell. She was a member of Union Baptist Church and was a homemaker. Mrs. Strickland enjoyed gardening, bluegrass and Gospel music, and loved to dance. She was a role model for all that knew her. Mrs. Strickland was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ben Strickland; one child, Morris Taylor; one grandson, Andrew Mitchell Taylor; and two brothers, John Robert and Donald Mac Stillwell.