Raymond 'Pop' Strickland Dies

Raymond Ernest “Pop” Strickland, 96 of Douglasville, passed away, Aug. 12. He was born Feb. 1, 1916 in Douglas County to the late Ernest Paul Strickland and Mary Ellen Strickland. “Papa”, whom he was affectionately called by his family, built Pop’s Country Store in 1946 at the corner of Highway 166 and Post Rd. and remains a local landmark in the Fairplay Community.

Until very recently, you could find Papa sitting in a chair in the store greeting customers and friends with a smile and down-home conversation. Strickland served Douglas County citizens as a Commissioner from 1962 to 1972. Pop was the eldest member of the Friendship Baptist Church in the Fairplay Community. Papa will be dearly missed by his loving family and his faithful customers and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his loving wife Evie Mae “Nanny” Smallwood Strickland, to whom he was married 71 years until her passing on May 15, 2006; his beloved son, Rev. Darrell Strickland; brothers: Clyde Strickland and Roy Strickland; sisters: Sadie Lovell, Dorothy Bell, Mae Huff and Pauline Buckelew.

Survivors are his daughter and son-in-law: Helen and Jimmy Daniell of Douglasville; daughter-in-law: Mary Ann Strickland of Douglasville; sisters: Willie Jones of Rome, GA and Jean Fountain of Winston; grandchildren: Barry Daniell, Darlene and Jeff Collett, Donna and Howell Edwards and D.J. Strickland; great grandchildren: Dana Daniell, Kari and Justin White, Stephen Collett, Lauren and Eric Parrish, Jenna Daniell, Matthew Collett, Daniel Collett, and Randall James Strickland; great-great grandchildren: Hadley Collett, Samantha White and Abigail Parrish.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 15, at 3 p.m. from the Friendship Baptist Church in the Fairplay Community with Rev. Eric Evans, Rev. Johnny White and Minister Mike Mallory officiating. Music will be rendered by the Boatright Family and Sherry McKinley. Strickland will be placed in the church at 2 p.m.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery with D.J. Strickland, Jeff Collett, Howell Edwards, Stephen Collett, Matthew Collett and Daniel Collett serving as Pallbearers. Barry Daniell and Randall James Strickland will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.

The family will receive friends, Monday, Aug. 13, from 6 until 9 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 14 from noon until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

You may share your thoughts and memories in the online guestbook at www.hightowersmemorial.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to and Cremation Service, Douglasville. For more information, call 770-489-2818.