James Ray Strickland

James Ray Strickland, 62, of Fitzgerald, passed away Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at the VA Hospital in Dublin.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday, October 11, 2014 in the chapel of Lowe's Funeral Home with Rev. Royce Hulett officiating. Interment will follow in the Jacksonville Cemetery in Jacksonville, GA.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00pm, Friday, October 10 at the funeral home.

Ray Strickland was born November 8, 1951 in Douglas to the late James Alford and Lula Mae Strickland. He was a 1969 graduate of Telfair County High School and then was inducted into the United States Army in 1971 to 1973, in which he served his country honorably for two years. He was stationed in Okinawa and Vietnam. While serving in Vietnam he received many awards and medals. He was a member of the Georgia Defense Force receiving many awards and ribbons.

Ray was a former machine maintenance at Shaw, Roydon Wear, Burlin Underwear Factory and a 966 Front End Loader at Gilman and a Tool Room Maintenance at Kimberly Mobile Homes, Sweetwater Homes and Fleetwood Mobile Home. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and taking photographs at weddings, taking trips with his family and reading his Bible. He was a member of the Jacksonville United Methodist Church and later a member of Fitzgerald Church of God. He was a dedicated husband and father.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Bonnie Strickland of Fitzgerald; daughter, Wendy (Rich) Prather of Butler, Pennsylvania; grandchildren, Brianna Prather and Brittany Prather of Butler, Pennsylvania; two sisters, Mary Ann (George) Harper of Broxton and Kay (Hal) Ussery of Hazlehurst; sisters-in-laws, Alice Fletcher and Connie Turner of Mystic; Emily (Tim) Shivers of Bowing Green, Kentucky.

He was preceded in death by a son, Jason Ray Strickland and his father and mother, James and Lula Mae Strickland.

Donations may be made to Lowe's Funeral Home, P.O. Box 9, Helena, Georgia 31037 to help family with travel expenses.

Please register online condolences at lowesfuneralhome.net

Lowe's Funeral Home of Helena has charge of the arrangements.