Birth Date: 09/02/1947
Deceased Date: 06/21/2023
Wayne Norwood Strickland, 75, of Selma, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 21 at the home he and his wife, Ruthie, shared for 45 years. Born in Smithfield to the late Eula Beasley and Norman Strickland on September 2, 1947, Wayne was the oldest of three boys.
After graduating from Wilson’s Mills High School in 1965, Wayne attended classes at East Carolina University and then received an accounting degree from Hardbarger Business College. He later joined the United States Army and bravely served in the Vietnam War from 1969 until 1971.
Mr. Strickland worked for several years in the Johnston County Inspections Department before joining his brother, Donald, and another friend in Odd Jobs, Inc. There, he mostly ran residential services from 1984 until an injury led to his retirement in 2014. A lifelong member of Wilson’s Mills Baptist Church, Wayne attended Sunday School, church services, and special events from boyhood, until illness impeded his mobility. He dutifully served the church as Assistant Treasurer and as a Deacon for many years.
Known by many in the community as “The Odd Jobs Man”, he was much, much, more – a beloved husband, father, granddaddy, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, friend, and willing to go out of his way to do what he could for those he knew.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 40 years, Ruthie. Surviving are his daughter, Amy Strickland and husband Ty Freeman, of Garner, son Norwood Strickland and wife Anne, of Four Oaks; grandchildren Coralie Ruth Freeman, Jonathan Strickland, and Savannah Strickland; 7 bonus grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; brothers Donald Strickland and wife Linda, and Harold Strickland; sister-in-law Patsy Daughtry and husband Tom; niece Amber Strickland Daniels and husband Jason, nephew Ricky Ward and wife Melodie; nephew Brandon Ward and wife Amanda; and numerous other family and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 26, at 2:00 pm in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home in Selma, with Rev. Billie Lawson officiating. Burial will follow at Knollwood Memorial Park near Clayton. The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home on Monday from 1-2 pm and at other times at the home of Patsy and Tom Daughtry, 155 Watson Road, Selma, NC.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Wayne’s memory to the Wilson’s Mills Baptist Church Building Fund, NC State Wolfpack Club Scholarship Fund, or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
