Johnnie Ella (Speer) Strickland

Johnnie Ella (Speer) Strickland “Mema Johnnie” of Darien went home to be with her Lord and Savior during the early morning hours of June 3, 2015 while under the loving and compassionate care of Hospice of the Golden Isles.

Johnnie was born September 26, 1936 in Springfield, SC to Joseph Bryant “J.B.” Speer and Sarah Frances Smith Speer and moved with her family to Darien in 1945 where she resided for the remainder of her life. Johnnie attended Darien High School graduating in 1954 and throughout the years has enjoyed continued fellowship lunches with her classmates. Johnnie was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Darien where she followed in her mother’s musical footsteps serving as the pianist for many years.

During her career she helped many working mothers by caring for their precious children and later was employed for 24 years as Secretary for the University of Georgia McIntosh County Extension.

Johnnie’s greatest accomplishment in life was raising her 3 sons and being Mema Johnnie to her 5 grandchildren.

She was proceeded in death by her parents; husband Lewis Asbury “Strick” Strickland and her sister Frances Evangeline “Vangie” Speer Gault, of Darien.

She is survived by her children: Lewis Asbury Strickland of Camden Co; Ralph Paul Strickland and wife, Kim of Brunswick and William “Bill” Anthony Strickland and wife, Jill of Homosassa, Fl.; her grandchildren: Brittney and Brandon Strickland, Brunswick; Morgan Strickland, Camden Co. and Gage and Peyton Strickland of Homosassa, Fl.; her siblings: Willa Jo Speer Howard of Darien; Jean Bryant Speer King, of Jonesboro, Ga; Mary Gwen Speer Jackson, of Murphy, NC; Saidee Myrtle Speer Woods of Lakemont, GA; John Wesley Speer of North Charleston, SC; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Shirley Speer of Marietta, SC;, Bill Woods of Lakemont, GA; along with many nieces, nephews; great-nieces, great-nephews and special friends who have assisted selflessly through the years, Woodrow and Peggy Sessoms, Mary Alice Wilber-Stenander, and Mary Lou Forsyth Byrd.

Honorary pallbearers will be Woodrow and Peggy Sessoms, James Ray Gault, Jamie Gault, Mary Alice Wilber-Stenander, Darien High School Class of 1954, Dr. Melton and Plantation Dental Associates Staff, Dr. Mark Gold and Staff, Dr. William Laws and Staff, Coastal Cardiology, Dr. James M. Heery and Staff, Hospice of the Golden Isles, Southeast Georgia Health System Staff of CCU, St. Joseph’s Candler Home Health Care and Altamaha Home Health.

Active pallbearers will be Ashton Alford, Calvin Bennett, Ronnie Bethune, Paul Gale, Ken Miller, Graham Prescott, Al Robinson and Jimmy Stein.

Visitation will be held Friday, June 5, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Darien with Reverends Dimas Diaz and Marien Mullis officiating. Burial will follow at Belleville Cemetery, McIntosh County.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Hospice of the Golden Isles or Darien First Baptist Church.