Iola Evangeline Geralds

Because you see she was different, she was special and very unique in a thousand ways. She was loving and she was giving to everyone in her own way. This is a great loss, and we will all miss her dearly. Mrs. Iola Geralds daughter of the late Paul Lee Strickland and Mary Comfort Nealy Strickland was born on August 02, 1938, in Orrum, North Carolina. She departed this life on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, in UNC Health Southeastern in Lumberton, North Carolina.
She was educated in the Robeson County schools and at an early age she joined First Orrum Missionary Baptist Church in Orrum, North Carolina. After school she moved to Suffolk, New York and worked there with the bus line after exchanging her career and moving to Patterson, New Jersey. She started her career in home health. She worked in several rest homes until moving closer to home to Hampton, Virginia. Iola continued her journey until she came back to Orrum to care for her mother. Iola rejoined First Orrum Missionary Baptist Church and begin to sing in the choir and working in the church until her health failed.
She was married to the late Roosevelt Geralds on September 7, 1956 in Dillon, South Carolina. To this union no children were born but she helped raise her brother's twins, Michelle and Michael who were known to her as Cottie and Buddy.
After the passing of her mother, Iola moved to Fairmont, North Carolina where she made lots of friends with her sweet spirit, and humble heart. If she could help you in any way, she would give her last. Iola was a reader, and she encouraged the kids to explore the world through books. As the years past and she became lonely, she got a four-legged companion named Angel who she loved with all her heart. Iola loved crossword puzzles and crocheting until her hands would no longer allow her to do so.
The extended family left to cherish her precious memories are her dog Angelett Geralds of the home, a devoted and loving niece Rev. Michelle (Minister Harvey) McKenzie of Chadbourn, North Carolina, Shelia Strickland of Whiteville, North Carolina, Betty Williams of Clarkton, North Carolina. Five nephews,
Willis (Victoria) Hill of Pembroke, North Carolina, Michael Thomas of Chadbourn, North Carolina, Terry and Gary Strickland of Whiteville, North Carolina. A very special great niece whom she enjoyed spending days with, KeTurah McKenzie of Chadbourn, North Carolina and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Poem
Auntee
I watched all through your suffering and often I had to cry. For I felt within my heart that very soon I would have to say goodbye. You taught me so much and told me to always pray and trusting God in everything and He will show me the way. I asked God to give me strength to face this and courage to bear this blow. What it meant to lose you, no one will ever know. Oh, how I will treasure you. Your love and everyday being. So, to all of you who have a loved one treasure them with the utmost loving care. You'll never know the real heartache until you find they are no longer there. Humbly submitted Her Loving Niece Michelle and Family
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