Bessie Smith Strickland, 84 of Sneads, Florida, took the hand of her Lord and passed peacefully to her heavenly home on December 9, 2021. Bessie was a woman of great faith and attended Emmanuel Holiness Church. She will be remembered by her positive spirit, joyful personality, and the constant smile always on her face. Bessie loved to cook and shop, but most of all she made it her life purpose to be a mother to anyone that would allow her as she fostered many children through the years. She lived for her
family and enjoyed traveling to Montana to visit her beloved niece Rita Rolph and family. Bessie worked hard to provide for her family; she retired from Florida State Hospital after many years of faithful service. Bessie was a kind and gentle person who dedicated her life to her family and her Lord. She will be forever missed by her friends and precious family that she loved so dearly.
Bessie is survived by her daughters, Vanessa Powell and husband Ronald Neel of Bascom, FL and Vicki Baxter and husband Wayne of Sneads, FL; her sons, Greg Strickland and wife Joy of Sneads, FL and Kenny Strickland and wife Dawn of Alton, IL; grandchildren, Christopher Powell of Oregon, Justin Powell of Two Egg, Taylor Roland of DeFuniak Springs, Zachary Neel of Bascom, Paul Baxter of Sneads, Khristin Crocker of Ft. Payne, AL, and Savanna Wynn of Marysville, OH; great grandchildren, Hunter, Mason, Leah, Aleah, Anthony, April, Jacob, Gabriel, Braidon and Corbin; a very special sister in law,
Gayle Smith; a very special niece, Rita Rolph of Montana; grand nieces, Meagan and Aynzley Smith; many foster children as well as nieces, nephews and other extended family members.
Bessie is preceded in death by her parents, Alton and Emma Smith; her husband, Tom Strickland; three sisters, Annie Sanders, Faye Nelson, and Velma Weeks; three brothers, Vernon Smith, Toby Smith, and Ray Smith and a son Terry Powell.
A time of visitation will take place in the old Smith Homeplace located at 3088 Sandridge Church Road on Sunday, December 12, 2021, from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM CST. Celebration of Life Services will take place at Emmanuel Holiness Church with Rev. Mike Daniels and Pastor Eva Howell officiating on Monday, December 13, 2021, at 2:00 PM CST followed by interment in Sand Ridge Cemetery @ Emmanuel Holiness Church in Sneads, FL.
