Arris Elizabeth Strickland

Born in the chilly air of Akron, Ohio, Arris Elizabeth Mull entered our world on October 14, 1950. Clayton and Fannie (Wilson) Mull were blessed with their only child, a healthy baby girl who would one day become a lovely wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

Her father, a tire factory worker and her mother, a hospitality worker, would provide Arris with a rich life of love. A true daddy’s girl, she was introduced to hunting by her father and cooking and baking by her maternal grandmother, Nettie.

She attended South High School with her future husband, even dedicating her senior highlight in their yearbook to “L. Strick.”. They would both graduate in 1968 and go different ways in life as she was swiftly recruited by the Bell System and accepted a communication specialist position at Northern Bell. During this time, she also studied at Akron University while becoming a well-rounded socialite in America’s mid-west. She welcomed her first two children; Celeste and Aaron while in Akron, but decided she had enough of their brutal, snowy winters and made the decision to migrate her family to the south. She transferred to an open position from Northern Bell to Southwestern Bell and chose Houston as her new home, moving with just her grandmother’s pot and a rug. Eager to start a new life, she quickly learned all about her new city and met many new friends. Shortly after her arrival, she would be reunited with her high school crush, Leonard “Lenny” Strickland, who was fresh off his honorable discharge from the Navy. Their reunion was pure bliss, and they became inseparable. They merged their children, Aaron and Celeste with Damon and became one family. By 1981, they would give birth to their son, Jason and solidify their union through marriage the following year. Three years later, their family would be complete after the birth of their daughter, Lauren. By this time, Arris and Lenny were blessed with the purchase of their first home in the Houston suburb, Missouri City. They would raise their kids here with the same rich love that was embedded in them from their parents.

After 31 years in the telecommunications industry, Arris decided to retire. As a young retiree, she delved deeper into her favorite hobbies, such as baking and testing new recipes, crafts, and spending more time with her family, but nothing could fill her void for the need to serve. She decided that she wanted to reenter the workforce, but under one condition: it would have to be close to her home because she was not willing to commute. God answered her prayers as Fort Bend ISD’s Thurgood Marshall High School was undergoing new construction in her neighborhood, almost within walking distance. She joined the administration team as the Associate Principal’s Secretary, and they became a force. Not only was she fulfilling her need to serve, but the campus was filled with so much love and close connections that they became part of her family, giving her unexpected joy in her late working years. She graced her community with twelve years of diligent work and service, warm smiles, blessed wisdom, and endless spirit.

By 2015, she would retire for the final time. Arris loved her family first, but also had a passion for music, theatre and musicals, history, cooking and baking. She had a God-given talent in the kitchen as she could recreate any recipe and heal people’s souls with her desserts.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Fannie Mull. She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Leonard Strickland, her daughters Celeste Strickland and Lauren Strickland-Bimage (Byron Bimage), her sons Damon Bracy (Tanisha Bracy), Aaron Strickland (Brandi Strickland), and Jason Strickland (Shamecka Strickland).

She will forever be cherished by her family, especially by her greatest joys—her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arris Elizabeth Mull will be remembered for her kindness and unwavering love for her family. Her light will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all who knew her.