Ernest James Strickland – Private, United States Army

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From a contemporary press report:

Ernest James Strickland, 93, of Washington, D.C. died Saturday, October 21, 2000 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Decatur, Georgia.

A funeral was Thursday, October 26 at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Roswell, Georgia, with the Rev. Sabian Strickland, pastor, officiating; the Rev. Willie R. Starks as eulogist; and assisting, Rev. Walter J. Hall, Rev. Darrell Thomas, Rev. B. Gerald Davis. Rev. April Wells, and Rev. Brazil Jones. Burial is scheduled in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia with full Military Honors on Tuesday, October 31 at 10 a.m.

Pallbearers were Reginald Guy McCain, Deason Richard Strickland, Forest Williams Jr., Johnny B. Williams Jr., Rickey E. Williams and Terry M. Williams.

Mr. Strickland was the seventh child of eleven children and spent his early years in Sheltonville, Georgia. He joined the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Roswell, Georgia, in 1929 under pastor Rev. S. E. Gore. He served faithfully before relocating to Washington, D.C. He was drafted into the U.S. Army June 6, 1943 where he served as Private First Class in Comapany C, 169th Engineer, Combat B.N., C.E., U.S.A. He served in World War II and was stationed in Europe.

While serving his country he received a Purple Heart and an honorable discharge on October 3, 1945. He lived in Washington, D. C. and in 1950 met and married his beautiful wife the late Hortense Alice Strickland. He retired from the National Hotel in Washington, D. C. as electrical engineer afte 35 years of diligent service. He touched the lives of everyone he met in a humorous and positive way and was always willing to help anyone in need. He was a faithful man of God, a strong man of integrity and principles, and a man of Christian character.

Surviving are children and grandchildren: Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence P. Arnold (Carrilyn Denise) of College Park, Ga. and their children Rashedah, Harridm and Jarrell, Mrs. Ernestine Strickland-Curtis of Riverdale, Ga. and their children Tamula and Terria; brother, Rev. Village Strickland of Atlanta, Ga.; sisters, Mrs. Leola Evans of Smyrna, Ga., Mrs. Alta Evans of Doraville, Ga.; a devoted friend whom he loved as a son, Jesse Parker III and daughter Jesslyn of Washington, D. C. , three sisters-in-law, Mrs. Gladys Strickland of Doraville, Ga., Mrs. Jerry Jones of Steger, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Gladys Sullivan (Plummer) of Crete, Illinois; brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Parrish (Clara) of Chicago, Ill.; other relatives and friends and a faithful caretaker Ms. Inez Taylor of Washington, D. C.

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