Bobby Strickland

Bobby Strickland, 86, of Bladenboro passed away Saturday, July 2, 2016. He is preceded in death by mother, Jessie S. Hester; wife, Carol Cain Strickland; son, Larry R. Strickland; brother, James "Billy" Hester. Survivors include: daughter, Jenel Strickland-Cain and husband Kim Cain of Bladenboro; grandchildren, Jody Strickland of Clayton, NC; Natalie Strickland of Tega-Kay, SC; Nathan Strickland of Bladenboro; step-grandson Casey Cain of Knoxville, TN; great-grandchildren, Landri Strickland of Clayton and Chloe Strickland of Myrtle Beach, SC; daughter-in-law, Audrey R. Strickland of Bladenboro; brothers, Curtis Hester of Cary, Harold Hester and wife Annis B. Hester of Bladenboro; sister, Martha H. Tisdale of Long Beach, NC; special friends, Ms. Sheryon McHenry, Otis and Donna Evans.
Bobby, later known by family and friends as "Pa" did not have any formal education, but was a successful business man. He joined the Armed Forces when he was 17 years of age and was stationed in Japan as a MP. He was also in the National Guard for many years.
After receiving an Honorable Discharged from the Army, he began making his way in life. He would tell us at times he was a "jack of all trades and master of none." However, the one thing that he became well known for was refinishing hardwood floors, a profession he enjoyed and took pride in. Contractors and clients would call wanting him to refinish their floors and would wait until he was available.
Life took a big turn for his life in March 2002. He fell and hit his head leaving him disabled for almost a year, but that did not stop him. Being such a strong-willed and persevering individual he fought his way back to refinishing floors every now and then with the help of buddy, Mr. Sidney Dove.
When no longer able to refinish floors he began "tinkering" on mainly riding lawnmowers. He didn't use them for mowing grass, instead they became his way of transportation in walking his beloved dog, Buddy, going back and forth to the barn and hauling whatever.
The one thing he wasn't was a quitter, despite the many adverse circumstances and situations he was forced to face. He smiled a lot, talked for hours, laughed, cried and every night he would talk about the day he accepted Jesus as his Savior (Sept. 2012) while tears streamed down his face. He enjoyed having someone read to him from his prayer book and would often say, "that was a good one." He loved telling any and every one about what Jesus did for him!
He never realized how funny he could be with a word, an action or a look. Like the time he saw this man in a retail store with a very long beard and was so captivated by it, he reached over (without permission) and took the man's beard in his hands. With a big grin on his face he asked the man, "Do the women like this?" Or like the time he found a wig in his closet, that was ugly, and he told his daughter he was going to wear it to church on Sunday.
There are many "Pa Stories" but you needed to know him and be with him to appreciate who he was. His family and friends loved him deeply and will cherish many life lessons that he taught them and the impact he made in their lives'. We are very grateful that God gave him to us.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July, 5, 2016 at 6:30 pm at Galeed Baptist Church in Bladenboro with Rev. Jason Williams and Rev. Warren Hill officiating. Visitation will follow the service at the church. Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at 10:30 am in Kelly Cemetery in Bladenboro.