Mrs. Nellie Ruth (Lancaster) Harper Strickland, age 79, of Lavonia, died Monday, September 28, 2015 at Hart Care Center.
Born December 2, 1935, in Buford, she was the daughter of the late Dewey Paul Lancaster and Nellie Estelle Lzora Greeson. She graduated from Sugar Hill High School and was valedictorian of the 1953 graduating class. She retired from Johnson & Johnson as a receptionist. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church of Buford.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband: Patrick Henry Strickland; and brothers: Royce Lancaster and Lamar Lancaster.
She is survived by her daughter: Linda Stewart of Lawrenceville; daughters and sons-in-law: Nancy & Amos Clark, Jr. of Hoschton and Joy & Russell Starrett of Lavonia; son and daughter-in-law: Charles Harper, Jr. & Barbara of Buford; sister and brother-in-law: Snowdell & Wendell Jackson of Lawrenceville; sister-in-law: Beulah Lancaster: grandchildren: Jeremy & Karen Clark, Wendy & Jeremy Frazier, Colby & Ashley Clark, Crystal & Ken Barnhardt, Heather Stewart, Jessica Woody, Jimmy Woody, Misty & Brian Panetta, Jessica Starrett, and Josh Starrett; nine great-grandchildren and several nieces & nephews also survive.
The funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 2, 2015 at the Lavonia Chapel of Strickland Funeral Home with Rev. Doug Brown and Rev. Courtney Umbehant officiating. Burial will follow in Franklin Memorial Gardens – South in Royston. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. At other hours the family will be at the home of Russell & Joy Starrett.