Reginald Edwin Strickland

With sorrow and eternal gratitude for a life well lived, we mourn the passing of Reginald Edwin Strickland, 94, of Prattville, Alabama. He entered the presence of Jesus on February 25, 2025 surrounded by his family. Born on July 10, 1930, in Miami, Florida, Reginald was the second of three children born to Ruby Raulerson Strickland and Cyrus Edwin Strickland. He spent his childhood in Patterson, Georgia, where he attended small, rural public schools. Being accepted as a work student, he graduated from Berry College in Rome, Georgia in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Soon after graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force where he served 33 years, 10 months and 21 days of continuous active duty until he retired in July 1985 at the rank of Lt. Colonel. His Air Force career afforded him and his family the opportunity to experience first-hand many countries from around the world. He was awarded the Defense Department’s Meritorious Service Award six times throughout his Air Force career. The greatest achievement of his military career, however, was to meet and marry his wife of 63 years, Syble (Maxine) Strickland. In 1986, while obtaining a second master’s degree from Auburn University at Montgomery, he was recruited by the Alabama Department of Public Health as a temporary student aide at $5.36 per hour. Twenty-eight years later, at the age of 85, he retired from ADPH from his position as the deputy director of the Center for Health Statistics Reginald is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Donahue and Billy, his son, Roger, and granddaughters Kristi and Maria. He leaves behind a legacy of faith through his four children: Deborah Hill, Linda Bates (Winsley), Brenda Hults, (Bob), and Randall Strickland; six grandchildren, Jeremy Clem (Deb), Jeffrey Lawson, Matthew, Brittany, Kayla, and Christopher Strickland as well as three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Reginald was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Prattville. He lived humbly and frugally touching countless lives by his kindness and unwavering generosity to those in need. A service to celebrate his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 28, 2025, in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Prattville, Alabama. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. in the narthex prior to the service. The family would like to thank Amedisys Hospice of Montgomery for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The National Federation of the Blind. “I have fought the good fight, have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Reginald Edwin Strickland

July 10, 1930 - February 25, 2025