Donald Wayne Strickland

Donald Wayne “Don” Strickland, Sr., age 71, of Columbus, MS, passed away March 6, 2022, at UAB Medical Center in Birmingham, AL. Mr. Strickland was born April 4, 1950, to Homer Junior Strickland and Lou Ellen Bridges Strickland Conner in Columbus, MS. Don attended Franklin Academy, Joe Cook, and graduated from Stephen D. Lee High School in Columbus, MS in 1968 (“none were so great as the mighty class of ‘68”). He then entered the U.S. Air Force where his military career spanned 20 years of honorable service. As an administrator, he was stationed in San Antonio, TX, George AFB, CA, Johnston Island Atoll (Pacific Ocean), Altus AFB,OK, Norton AFB, CA, The American Embassy, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, F.E. Warren AFB,WY, Allied Forces Southern Europe, Naples, Italy, and he retired from McGuire AFB, NJ in 1988 at the rank of had the aircraft maintenance contract at Columbus AFB, MS. Master Sergeant. He then worked several months at United Technologies in Columbus, MS. Lastly he went to work for the Civilian Contractor who had the aircraft maintenance contract at Columbus AFB, MS. He retired from there after 25 years of service as their Budget Manager in 2013. Mr. Strickland was a devoted Christian who was well known as a kind, generous, helpful, and thoughtful man. He always looked for ways to help friends, neighbors, and family members alike. He helped out in his neighborhood by doing anything from cleaning up to helping elderly neighbors. He loved doting on his grandchildren the most. He would create photo albums just for them, get them special gifts, or just spend time and chat with them, even video chat. Mr. Strickland is preceded in death by his father Homer Junior Strickland (Marcell) and step sister Marlene Conner Young (James) He is survived by his wife Regina Porter Strickland, mother Lou Ellen Bridges Strickland Conner, sons Donald W. Strickland, Jr. (Carrie) of Webster, NY, and James D. Strickland (Courtney) of Springboro, OH; three granddaughters, Piper Strickland, Mae Strickland, and Vivienne Strickland; step children Georgia Cargile and Ashley Cargile (Lori), step grandchildren Joshua Hauerwas (Charity), Justin Hauerwas (Carli), Dillon Cargile, and Arron Cargile; great grand stepchildren Maverick Hauerwas, Vera Hauerwas, Veda Hauerwas, Oliver Hauerwas, and Fiona Mateer; brother Denny Strickland (Judy) of Lakeland, FL, sisters Sharron Beasley (John) and Wanda Shelton (Larry) of Columbus, MS, step brothers Warren Conner (Tammy) of Columbus, MS, Ray Conner of Dekalb, MS, Irving Conner of Dekalb, Mark Conner of Caledonia, MS, and other loving family members. Serving as pallbearers are Denny Strickland Jr., Mark Strickland, Bowman Shelton, Shane Simmons, Dillon Cargile, and Arron Cargile. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 12, 2022, at 2:00 PM, at Grace Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at Eggers Cemetery in Caledonia, MS. Brother Charley Whitney is officiating, and Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home is conducting arrangements.