Dr. W. Earl Strickland

MACON – Dr. William Earl Strickland died Monday, August 15, 2011 at the age of 91. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church with Ruth A. Knox, Bishop Bevel Jones and Pastor Tommy Mason officiating. The family will meet friends at Snow’s on Cherry Street from 4 until 6 PM Wednesday. Contributions in his memory may be made to the donors’ charity of preference.

Dr. Strickland studied at Emory University where he earned the degrees Bachelor of Philosophy, Master of Arts and Master of Theology. LaGrange College awarded him the Doctor of Divinity degree.

He began his career by serving for twenty years as a Methodist minister in North Georgia. In January of 1960 he was elected president of Wesleyan College, in which capacity he served for nineteen and a half years, the longest term of any president in the history of the college.

During his time at Wesleyan, Dr. Strickland served a term as president of several educational organizations: The Georgia Association of Colleges, The Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges, and The Southern Association of Colleges for Women.

Dr. Strickland was the recipient of a citation from the Christian Council of Atlanta for his work relative to civil rights. He also received a citation from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University for the same work. In another case, he received an honor from the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge.

Dr. Strickland attended Mulberry Street United Methodist Church and was active in civic affairs in Macon. For many years he was a member of the Macon Rotary Club. He served for a while on the Civilian Advisory Council at Robins Air Force Base. He was active in charitable work, serving in a leadership capacity in fund-raising for several organizations.

Dr. Strickland was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma Fraser Strickland. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Patricia Otwell of Atlanta, Mrs. Ellen Clann (Tom) of Atlanta, and Mrs. Margaret Lovein of Macon, and by two grandchildren, Robert E. Otwell (Jenna) of Chicago and Mary Elizabeth Lovein of Atlanta, and two great grandchildren, Kalen and Kais Otwell of Chicago.

Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Services, Cherry Street has charge of arrangements.