Theta Strickland

Mrs. Theta Roof Gunby Strickland, 99, of Dalton passed away Sunday, October 22, 2017 in Dalton, Georgia.

She was the daughter of the late Reverend and Mrs. H.R. Gunby. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elton C. Strickland, Sr.; granddaughter, Mary Dawn Strickland; sister, Karis Gilder Lewis; brothers-in-law, Herman P. Gilders and Guy Lewis; brother, Robert Tau Gunby; sister-in-law, Norma Gunby; great-grandson, Bryce Thomas Nelson; son, Robert L. Strickland, Sr. and daughter-in-law, Helen H. Strickland.

She is survived by her daughter, Lorene S. Wise and son-in-law, Ed Wise of Villa Rica; son, E.C. Strickland, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Anita T. Strickland of Dalton; grandchildren, Rodd Hineman, Robby Strickland, Barbara Braswell and husband Richard, April Nelson and husband Robert, Heather Miller and her husband T.J.; great-grandchildren, Drake Hineman, Kayla Braswell, Riley Braswell, Zachary Hineman, Parker Nelson, Natalie Nelson, Avery Miller, Blake Nelson and Thomas Miller III; several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Strickland obtained her teaching certificate from Georgia Teachers College (Georgia Southern University) at age 19 and later graduated from Central Wesleyan College. She taught elementary school for over forty years, including twenty-three years in the Atlanta school system working with special needs children.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. Her greatest joy in this life was her family. She loved the Lord Jesus with all her heart.

She was an active member of Atlanta First Wesleyan Church in Ellenwood, Georgia before moving to Dalton where she attended the First Baptist Church of Dalton.

Services for Theta will be on Friday at 3 p.m. in the Chapel of Love Funeral Home with the Rev. Darey Kittle and Rev. Phillip Cannon officiating.

Graveside services will be in Resthaven Gardens of Memory of Dekalb County in Decatur, Georgia on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The family will receive friends at Love Funeral Home on Friday from 1 to 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Giddeons International, Giddeons North Camp, P.O. Box 3922, Dalton, Georgia 30719.

Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.

LOVE FUNERAL HOME, 706-278-3313.