Mary Ann Alexander Strickland

Mary Ann Alexander Strickland, age 75, of Tennille, died Thursday, September 20, 2018 at Heritage Inn Nursing Home in Sandersville following a lengthy battle with dementia.  She was a resident at Heritage Inn Sandersville for the past five years.

Mary Ann was a Washington County native, the daughter of the late William Forrest Alexander and the late Annette Ivey Alexander.  As a teenager, she worked with her father in his plumbing business and at the Peach Farm.  Mary Ann graduated from the first consolidated Washington County High School in 1960 at the top of her class.  During this time she met the true love of her life, Harry Eugene Strickland.  They married shortly after graduation.  Mary Ann and Harry recently celebrated their Fifty-Eighth wedding anniversary.  Mary Ann was a loving wife, mother, sister, and grandmother.  Her family was her greatest joy in life.  Mary Ann was an avid gardener and possessed a great knowledge of horticulture.  She was an exceptional cook and took great pleasure in preparing meals for her family and friends.

Mary Ann spent 35 years working in various capacities as a Civil Servant.  She was employed at the Marine Corp Supply center in Albany, GA, at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, GA, and at the VA Hospital in Lake City, FL. Mary Ann retired as Chief of Accounting from the Carl Vinson VA Medical center in Dublin, GA, in 2000. She was a recognized expert in her field and traveled the country serving as a consultant on a federal task force.  During her childhood, Mary Ann attended Sisters Baptist Church in Sandersville, where her knowledge of the Bible delighted her grandfather, Roger Ivey.  Upon her return to the community, she became a member of Tennille Baptist Church where Harry served as a Deacon.

Survivors are; her husband, Harry Eugene Strickland; children, Keith Allen Strickland and his wife Shelia of Wadley, Lori Anne Clark of Tennille, and Kathryn Leigh Barker and her husband Dan of Sandersville; grandchildren, Lindsey Phelan, Sean Strickland, Kyle Black, Daniel Anderson, Samantha Burrows, Elizabeth Strickland, Kristina Edens, Steven Ebelsheiser, Grace Ann Barker, and John Clayton Barker; seven great grandchildren; and sisters, Gladys A. Cronquist of Dallas Texas, and Patricia A. Wicker of Sandersville.

The family was truly blessed to have Mary Ann in their lives.  She was a very loving, selfless individual who always placed the needs of her family first.  After learning that she had dementia Mary Ann often expressed the fear that her children would suffer the same fate. It was her prayer that a cure be discovered and that others would not suffer the same fate.  The family has requested that anyone wishing to send a love offering do so to the Alzheimers Association at the following link: http://act.alz.org/goto/InMemoryOfMaryAnnStrickland

The family is eternally grateful for the loving care that Mary Ann received while at Heritage Inn Sandersville.  She was treated with the utmost dignity and respect.

Mary Ann was an extraordinary woman and will be greatly missed.

Family and friends will be received at the Strickland residence at 100 Old Savannah Road, Tennille.  A memorial service will be held on October 6th at 11:00 a.m. at the Tennille Baptist Church.

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements. www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com