Tina Dannelle Strickland

Tina Dannelle Strickland, 51, of Elizabethtown, passed away on Friday, January 19, 2024, at the Elizabethtown Nursing Center. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents: Charlie & Mary Merritt; maternal grandparents: Susie & Fletcher Bordeaux; stepmom; Barbara Merritt and nephew, Channing Rich.

Tina leaves behind her father, Danny Merritt of Tobermore; mother, Dottie Fowler of White Lake; son, Trevor Everette of Shannon; daughter, Kimberly Bullard of Elizabethtown; brother, Danny Merritt and wife Wendy of Garland; sisters: Linda Beard and husband Jeff of Elizabethtown, Kristy Rich of Columbia, SC; half sister Brittany Smith of Cedar Creek, NC; grandchildren: Hadley Priest, Noah Oxendine and many nieces and nephews.  

Tina was strong willed and stubborn at times, but she also had an enormous heart and wonderful sense of humor. She was generous, loyal, and brave. She was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through all of her life experiences. Tina was a fun spirited soul who took on many passions. One of which included her love for motorcycles. One of her favorite places was the ocean. More specifically, Myrtle Beach, SC. This has been one of her favorite places since she was a young child.

She will be remembered for all the heart she shared with her friends and family. She truly loved each of them- and if you knew her, you knew it. 

Tina was a beautiful person inside and out. Her smile was so stunning it would light up the whole room. She would look at you with those big brown eyes and it would melt your heart. She cared so deeply for the people around her. She was so kind and passionate. She made an impact on many lives. When her time came, she carried herself with dignity, strength, and full of love for those who went before her. She put up a long fight after her injury in 2014. Up to the end, she never stopped fighting. She will be forever missed. Until we meet again.

“Seeing death as the end of life is like seeing the horizon as the end of the ocean."

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 1:00 pm at the Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown officiated by Reverend Richard Smith.