Charles Strickland

1937 - 2018

Command Sergeant Major (Ret) Charles E. Strickland, Jr. died peacefully on Saturday, June 9, 2018 after a brief illness. He was 80 years old. Mr. Strickland was married to the former Lila Frances Kelley of Lithonia, GA. They were married for 59 years and is preceded in death by the late Charles Ennice Strickland, Sr. (father) and Martha Florabell McHugh Strickland (mother) of Atlanta, Georgia.

Born on June 21, 1937 in Atlanta, GA, Mr. Strickland grew up in Lakewood Heights in Atlanta. He was an Eagle Scout at 15 years old and graduated Fulton High School in 1955. He later attended Georgia State University.

He began work with The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P Food Stores) in 1955 as stock clerk. He worked his way through the organization rising initially to Assistant Manager and then Manager of the A&P store formally located on Covington Hwy in Decatur, GA. He served in that capacity until 1969 when he was promoted to Pricing Coordinator for the Southeast Region of the United States. He worked for A&P for 42 years retiring in 1997 when A&P Food Stores closed operations in Georgia.

Mr. Strickland also became a member of the Georgia Army National Guard in February 1956 initially in Field Artillery with the 179th Field Artillery-Service Battery. Later he became a Military Policeman (MP) with the 170th MP Battalion. He served in that capacity for 34 years rising to the Army's highest enlisted rank of Command Sergeant Major (CSM). Mr. Strickland served the State of Georgia and our Nation during periods of civil unrest in the 1960's and during the Cold War with the Soviet Union in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Command Sgt. Major Strickland retired in October 1990.

Mr. Strickland was a 50-year Master Mason beginning his Masonic journey in 1964 with Oglethorpe Lodge Number 655 where he rose to the sublime degree of Master Mason on August 25, 1964. Mr. Strickland worked through his Masonic journey rising to Worshipful Master in 1968. Mr. Strickland remained a member of Oglethorpe Lodge and became a member of the Eastern Star in Starlight Chapter #421 where he served as Past Patron. Mr. Strickland later sought more Masonic Light as a Royal Arch Mason and York Rite 32nd Degree Mason. Mr. Strickland later transferred to Stockbridge Lodge #691, Stockbridge Ga and Morrow Lodge for the Eastern Star.

Mr. Strickland had two sons, Charles E. 'Chuck' Strickland, III and David F. Strickland. Both sons were members of the Boy Scouts of America where Mr. Strickland served as Assistant Scout Master and Scout Master of Stone Mountain Troop 502. Mr. Strickland remained active in his retirement years serving as Secretary to Union United Methodist Church in Stockbridge GA and Secretary of Stockbridge Masonic Lodge.

Mr. Strickland is survived by his wife, Frances K. Strickland of McDonough, GA. They have two sons, Charles E. 'Chuck' Strickland, III and his children, Charles Chase Strickland and Charisma Kelley Strickland (Starlet B. Strickland, mother); David F. Strickland and his children, Ashley Danielle Strickland, Allison Tiffany Strickland (Leslie D. Strickland, mother) and Kimberly Michelle Strickland (Michelle Strickland, mother). Mr. Strickland had one older sister, Martha M. Gray and their three children, Marvin Gray (deceased), Carolyn Gray Mayhall, and Scott Gray (C.D. Gray, father). He is also survived by sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Pat and Jarrell Richardson of Clearwater, FL and their children, Jennifer Bryant and her family from Cincinnati, OH, Susan Johnson and her family from Clearwater, FL; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 15, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Union United Methodist Church where full Military Honors will be rendered by the Georgia Army National Guard and Masonic Honors will be rendered by the Southeast Memorial Association; interment will follow at the church cemetery. Mr. Strickland will lie in state at the church from 1 until 2 p.m. prior to the service. A dinner will be provided by the members of his church following the services. The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office will provide escort services to the funeral at 12:30 p.m. Family will receive friends Thursday, June 14, 2018 from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m. and Friday from 11 until 12:15 p.m. at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted or in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Union United Methodist Church. Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com. Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Road, Conyers, GA 30012, 770-483-7216. Strickland, Charles