December 27, 1941 ~ March 16, 2024 (age 82)
With her family by her side, Rebecca Lucille Strickland “Granny Lou”, 82, of Cerro Gordo, passed peacefully on Saturday afternoon March 16, 2024, while in the Shoreland Healthcare and Retirement Center.
A native of Columbus County, Lucille was born on December 27, 1941, daughter of Wilbur Elmer Blackwell and Ada Jane Cribb Blackwell. In addition to her parents, Lucille is also preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert Strickland and her former husband, R. Mitchel Tyler.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Worthington Funeral Home, with Pastor Neill Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 2:00-2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Lucille was a graduate of Cerro Gordo High School and her career spanned 40 years beginning with Carolina Telephone & Telegraph and ultimately retiring from BB&T. Lucille was also involved in the Cerro Gordo Community, a faithful member of Cerro Gordo New Life Methodist Church, the Cerro Gordo Garden Club, and the Cerro Gordo New Life Methodist Church Missionary Society.
Granny Lou was truly an angel on this earth, always smiling and laughing, and was kind to anyone she met along the way. She was loved by so many and will be missed in the Cerro Gordo Community. She enjoyed many things including gardening, shopping, and spending time with the “Sisters”. She was known for her Plum Jelly, Tang Cheese Balls, and Honey Bun Cake.
The surviving family includes her son, Mark Tyler (Leslie) of Wilmington. Her loving and devoted sisters, Vivian B. Williamson of Cerro Gordo, and Wilma Kay Greene of Cerro Gordo. grandchildren, Carrie Daniel Roberts (Jeremy) of Wilmington; Jackson R. Tyler (Kyley) of Charlotte; great-grandchildren, Baker, Louise, & Anna George Roberts; and many loving nieces and nephews. Granny Lou loved the Strickland family as well and was preceded in death by her son, Tommy Strickland as is survived by her sons; Gilbert “Bud” Strickland (Frankie) of Merritt Island, Florida, Keven (Linda) Strickland of Mt. Pleasant NC, Richard Strickland of Las Vegas, NV, and daughter, Connie Strickland Douglas of Concord, NC; sisters in law; Joyce Trujillo of Colorado, Judy Strickland of Cerro Gordo, and Debbie Strickland of Cerro Gordo; grandchildren, Sarah Bazemore (Mike) of Bluffton, SC, Matthew Strickland (Heather) of Charlotte NC, Reynolds Barbee (Anthony) of Stanfield, NC, and Raygan Douglas of Concord, NC; great grandchildren, Whitley, Keven Michael, and Brooks Bazemore, Lily and Ryder Strickland, Liam, Silas, and Avett Barbee, along with many loving, nieces, and nephews.
A special thank you to her devoted caregivers at Shoreland, the Liberty Hospice Team, Leslie Tyler, and Kelly Davis for caring for Granny Lou over the past two years.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Cerro Gordo New Life Methodist Church- PO Box 45 Cerro Gordo, NC 28430.
