Daniel Richard Strickland

MACON – Daniel Richard Strickland, 27, died at his home on December 21, 2010. The family will meet friends Friday at 10:00 a.m. prior to a public Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m., to be held in the chapel of Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home. A private family graveside service will follow the Memorial Service. The Rev. Jay Harris will officiate.

Daniel attended Martha Bowman Memorial United Methodist Church and was a member of the Sonshine Sunday School Class. After a drowning accident at the age of three, Daniel touched many lives while attending the United Cerebral Palsy Center, Tinsley, McEvoy and Northeast High School where he graduated in 2006. His regular education senior class peers awarded Daniel the “Challenge Award” because of his determination in spite of his physical and mental challenges.

Daniel also touched the lives of numerous caregivers and staff from Rescare of Macon, Abilities Discovered, Inc., River Edge Behavioral Health, CMS (DHR), and Rebuilding Macon. He participated in several UCP Telethons, a local TV commercial, and was featured in numerous articles in the Macon Telegraph and in local and National TV news stories. He has participated regularly in many fund raising functions including Relay for Life, the Children’s Hospital, and United Way. Daniel’s story was also featured in a segment of 60 Minutes, interviewed and reported by Ed Bradley.

Daniel is preceded in death his paternal grandparents, W. J. and Lucille (Batchlor) Strickland of Macon, and by his maternal grandfather and best friend, Richard Dean Van Horn of Macon.

Survivors are his mother, Tracy (Van Horn) Strickland of Macon; sister, Natasha (Stanley) Christian of Byron; brother, Taylor Garrett of Macon.

He is also survived by his maternal grandmother, Frances Bruce Van Horn of Macon; niece, Harlee Summers; nephews, Brandon and Alex Christian, all of Byron; his local great aunt, Harriett Neubauer, and by his daytime caregivers, Willie Mae Newman and Valerie Norwood, both of Macon. Other survivors include his father, Richard Strickland, sister Amanda Strickland and brother Austin Strickland, all of Gray.

The family may be contacted at the home of Frances Bruce Van Horn, 5854 Forsyth Road, Macon 31210.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lake Wildwood’s Annual Christmas on The Lake Charity, 115 Lake Wildwood Drive, Macon, GA 31220, “CHOPS” (Children’s Hospital Out Patient Services), a division of the Medical Center of Central Georgia at The Children’s Hospital c/o Medcen Community Health Foundation, 858 High Street, Macon, GA 31201, or to the charity of your choice.

Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery has charge of arrangements.