Myrtle L. Strickland

LORIS | Mrs. Myrtle Lee Gray Strickland, 69, passed away Monday night, July 9, 2007 at Loris Community Hospital following an illness.

Mrs. Strickland was born July 8, 1938 in Spartanburg County, S.C., a daughter of the late William R. Gray and the late Caroline Hance Gray.

She was a homemaker and a loving and devoted mother and grandmother. She enjoyed going to church, reading, spending time with her family and feeding her birds.

Mrs. Strickland was greatly loved by her family and will be missed so much. Her wish was for her family to join her in Heaven one day. She attended Freedom Freewill Baptist Church in Tabor City, N.C.

Mrs. Strickland was predeceased by her husband, Walter ''Ned'' Strickland; one son, Marshall Ned Strickland; two brothers, C.D. Gray and James Gray; and one sister, Lucy Altman.

Survivors include three sons, Clifford L. Strickland and his wife, Juanita, of Loris, James ''Snooky'' Strickland of Loris and Shorty ''Little Fella'' Strickland and his wife, Joanne, of Conway; one sister, Helen Mosley and her husband, James, of Columbus, N.C.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, July 11, 2007 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Loris.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, July 12, 2007 from the Ward Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Clifford L. Strickland and the Rev. Dale Manning officiating. Burial will follow in the Carolina Baptist Church Cemetery.

Please sign a guest book at MyrtleBeachOnline.com.

Memorials may be sent to Freedom Freewill Baptist Church, 204 West 8th Street, Tabor City, NC 28463.

Ward Funeral Home of Loris, 756-9273, is serving the family.