 Josie Strickland 1880 - 1924  W. A. Strickland 1857 - 1933 Annie Strickland 1853 - 1924 Mrs. W. A. Strickland
Another of the pioneer women of this section passed into rest when the spirit of Mrs. W. A. Strickland entered the world beyond on Monday night of this week. Born as Miss Annie Dowd near Brownsvile, Mississippi, on September 4, 1853, Mrs. Strickland was 71 years, 1 month and 16 days old when the Reaper called. At the age of 16, she was converted and united with the Gleendale Baptist church at the place of her birth, being baptized by Rev. Fitzgerald, the pastor. In February, 1884, she was married to Charles Brown, who died about 8 months after the marriage. One child, Charlie Brown, Jr. was born to this union, who survives his mother. In 1892, she married to Rev. W. A. Strickland. To this union were born Willie, who survives his mother, and a son who died in infancy. In 1894, Rev. and Mrs. Strickland moved to Texas, locating in this community and united with the First Baptist church. Eleven years later in 1905, they moved to Ellis county, where the membership of the family was placed with the Baptist church at Venus. Moving back to this community in 1907, Rev. and Mrs. Strickland purchased a home South of Elmont, where they lived until about four years ago, when they moved into Van Alstyne on account of the illness of Mrs. Josie Slaughter, Rev. Strickland's sister-in-law. At the time of their taking up their residence at Elmont, Rev. and Mrs. Strickland placed their membership with the Elmont Baptist church, where it still remains. It was during the illness of Mrs. Slaughter that Mrs. Strickland's health began failing, complications setting in which ultimately resulted in her death. She was patient in suffering and met the Grim Reaper when the end came with the unflinching courage of the true Christian, ready and willing to be translated. At the funeral, which was held on Wednesday morning from the First Baptist church, Rev. A. S. Hall, of Carrollton, who for 24 years has been an intimate friend of the family, spoke feelingly and impressively of the strong Christian character, the devotion to her church and its activities and the exemplary life as wife and mother of Mrs. Strickland. In every relation, whether as professing Christian, or as the wife and mother, or as neighbor or as friend, at home and abroad, Mrs. Strickland measured up to the highest standard. The large audience which attended the services was fully in sympathy with the sentiments of the man of God, knowing as they did that his utterances were true, and that, cold in death, there lay at the altar of the church, the body of one of the greater among women, a type, an example fully deserving of praise and commendation, and in all things worthy of emulation. In the vision of beauty which such a life as was that of Mrs. Strickland affords, there could be found nothing more expressive in defining her life, its example, and her character as the poet's expression: "Sister, thou wert mild and lovely, Gentle as the Summer dew." In the sympathy which is felt for the husband and family, bereft of the faithful wife, the devoted mother, and the constant and unwavering friend, there is an abundance and a profusion of sincerity. The surviving members of the family, Rev. Strickland, one son, five stepchildren and four grandchildren have, in their sorrow, a memory that must inspire and encourage them in the hope that in the other land they will again meet in a reunion to which there shall be no end, free from the surfeit of the woes of earth, and with a surcease of the joys which come to those who merit the benediction of the faithful. Mrs. Strickland is survived by her husband, Rev. W. A. Strickland, one son, C. C. Brown of Lazare, Texas and five stepchildren, Mark, Si, and Miss Josie Strickland, Mrs. Minnie Gregory and Mrs. Birdie Coffey all of Van Alstyne. The services were in charge of Rev. E. M. Atherton, pastor of the Elmont Baptist Church of which Mrs. Strickland was a member, who offered prayer, and Rev. Virgil M. Hailey, pastor of the First Baptist Church, who read the scriptures. The opening prayer was offered by A. J. Parish, for long years a friend of the Strickland family. Special music was very touchingly rendered during the service by a trio composed of Mrs. A. R. Hill, Joe Parish and Cap Hartwig. Interment was had at the local cemetery, where the newly made mound was covered with beautiful flowers, expressive of the love and affection of family and friends and by their fragrance typifying the freshness in which the memory of the departed wife and mother shall live in the hearts of those left behind. The pallbearers were as follows: A. J. Neill, E. G. Gregory, C. H. Durning, G. F. Savage, G. V. Bray, A. J. Parish. Honorary - J. M. Neathery, J. T. Sheridan, F. R. Slaughter, D. E. Ledbetter, J. L. Gray, T. H. Massie.   Van Alstyne Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |