Marion Othelia "Cricket" Strickland

Marion “Othelia” (Cricket) Strickland, 88, went to be with her Lord from Bethany House in Auburn, AL on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.

Funeral services to be held at 11:00 am EST/10:00 am CST, on Saturday, February 11, 2017, at Vance Memorial Chapel in Phenix City with burial in Lakeview Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6-8 pm EST/ 5-7 pm CST at the funeral home.

Othelia was born on April 20, 1928 in Louisville, AL to Ellis and Laura White. She eloped and married Bennie Strickland on May 13, 1945. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband, as well as sisters, Mavis Greene, Wilma Strickland, Doris Chance, and brothers, Elmer White and Coy White. She is also preceded in death by a daughter, Margie Rethel, and granddaughter, Katrina Faulk. She is survived by a son, Frankie Strickland (Julia Ann), and daughters, Regina Floyd (Larry), Laura Jean Charles (Jerry), Vivian Allen (Sam), and Dorothy Cook (Don); 5 grandchildren, Mark Strickland, Julie Varadhan (Balaji), James Grimes (Tracey), Crystal Neal, and Mike Charles (Melissa); 11 great-grandchildren, Luke, Summer, and Lily Strickland, Arjun, Ashwin, and Avi Varadhan, James Michael Grimes, Case and Ty Charles, Davey and Maegan Faulk; 1 great-great-grandchild, AnnaBeth Grimes; Step-granddaughter Dianne Mitchell (Gary), and Step-great-granddaughters Amy Smith (John Paul) and Jenny Scruggs (Tony), many nieces and nephews, and friends.

Othelia was very active and lived by herself until she was 83, at which time she moved to Assisted Living in Smiths Station, AL. She lived there for 4 ½ years before moving to Assisted Living in Opelika, prior to going to Hospice Care. She enjoyed life in general. She loved the Lord and was very active in all aspects of church life at Shady Woods Baptist Church for many years, teaching, singing in the choir, visiting the sick and shut-ins. She was known for sending out her cards and tracts to let people know she cared and was praying for them. She tried to take care of all those around her. She worked at Sunshine Biscuit Company for 33 years before retiring. She is now happy in the Lord’s presence and visiting with many of those she shared her love and care with in years past. She will be sorely missed.

“When you hear that I am dead, don’t believe a word of it. I’m more alive than I’ve ever been!”

Online condolences may be made at vancememorialchapel.net