James M. Strickland Jr.

James Mell (Jim) Strickland Jr., 81, of 1011 Quail Run Drive, Edenton, N.C., died on Friday, April 30, 2010 in his home. Mr. Strickland was born in Macon, Ga., and was the son of the late James M. Sr. and Doris Criswell Strickland. A 1951 graduate of Virginia Military Institute with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering, he was the former president of Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern Architects and Civil Engineers. An Army veteran of the Korean War, he attained the rank of 1st Lt. and was awarded the Bronze Star. Prior to moving to Edenton 19 years ago, he and his wife of nearly 56 years, the late Velma Wilburn "Vicki" Strickland made their home in Roanoke, Va. A member of Edenton United Methodist Church, the Chowan Arts Council, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and an avid sailor, he was particularly proud of his work in the design of the waterfront project in Edenton. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Hales Vicory. Surviving are three daughters, Susan Strickland Small and husband, E. Morris Small Jr., of Edenton, Teresa Strickland Andrews and husband, Mark A. Andrews, of Charlottesville, Va., and Charlotte Strickland Cole and husband, David L. Cook, of Alexandria, Va. He was lovingly known as Grandpapa to Emilie G. Cole, of San Francisco, Katie G. Small, of Winston-Salem, James B. Cole, of Carlisle, Pa., Kimberly Brooke Small, of Edenton, Caleb P. Andrews, of Knoxville, Tenn., Lauren W. Small, of Greenville, N.C., and Zachary G. Andrews, of Charlottesville. He is also survived by a former sonin-law, David Michael Cole. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, 2010, in Edenton United Methodist Church by the Rev. Charles Moseley. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Beaver Hill Cemetery. Friends may join the family on Friday, May 7, 2010, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, N.C., and all other times at the home of his daughter on Quail Run Drive, also in Edenton. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the VMI Foundation, Neikirk Hall, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, Va. 24450 or to Edenton U.M.C., 225 Virginia Road, Edenton, N.C. 27932 or to Albemarle Hospice, P.O. Box 189, Elizabeth City, N.C. 27909. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.