Birth Date: 07/17/1948
Deceased Date: 12/25/2022
Ruthie Slaughter Strickland, aged 74, passed away early Sunday morning, December 25, at Rex Hospital in Raleigh. Born in Johnston County on July 17, 1948, she was the daughter of the late William Slaughter and Ruth Eason Slaughter.
After attending Selma High School, Ruthie graduated in 1970 from East Carolina University. Upon graduation, she went to work for Johnston County schools; first at Richard B Harrison Jr High School then Smithfield Selma (Senior) High School. After retiring from over 30 years of teaching, she returned as a substitute teacher and served as a volunteer child advocate. Ruthie also held various part-time jobs, including at CVS in Smithfield and JD’s Country Store in Wilson’s Mills; she loved nothing more than seeing former students and catching up on their lives and families.
While many in the area knew her as their schoolteacher, Ms. Slaughter or Mrs. Strickland, she was so much more – a devoted and attentive wife, loving sister, aunt, loyal friend, the best mom in the world, and the happiest Grandmama there ever was, for the last 8.5 months.
Surviving are her husband of 40 years, Wayne Strickland, daughter, Amy Strickland and husband Ty Freeman of Garner, granddaughter Coralie Ruth Freeman, bonus grandchildren Marlee, Calleigh, and Jayce Freeman, all of Rolesville, sister, Patsy Daughtry and husband Tom of Micro, nephew Ricky Ward and wife Melodie, niece Amber Strickland Daniels and husband Jason; and more family and friends than can be listed.
Ruthie enjoyed few things more than spending time with her family, but she also enjoyed lunches with girlfriends, babysitting her granddaughter and grand-dog, travels around the world, all-day shopping excursions, Duke Basketball games, and NC State Football and Basketball. She even enjoyed a good football tailgate when it wasn’t too hot. She was a long-time member of Wilson’s Mills Baptist Church, member of the Temple Baptist Church Senior group, avid supporter of the Neuse Little Theater, and a former member of the Selma Junior Woman’s Club.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 30, at 2:00 pm in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home in Selma with burial following in Knollwood Memorial Park near Clayton. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 1-2 pm and at other times at the home of her sister Patsy, 155 Watson Road, Selma, NC.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Ruthie’s memory to the Wilson’s Mills Baptist Church Building Fund, NC State Wolfpack Club Scholarship Fund, or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, in honor of Jennings Palmer, which was Ruthie’s favorite charity.
Condolences may be sent to the family at parrishfh.com.
