David Shane Strickland

Left to cherish his memory is: mother, Willetta Bartol; fiancé, Marylou Jacinto; sisters, Nancy Strickland, and Ruth Strickland Jacinto; two nephews, Michael Strickland and wife Meredith and C.J. Jacinto and Fiance Ashley Stumpf; three nieces: Trina Jacinto, Stephanie Withrow , and Crystal Tillman and husband Martell; two great-nieces, Treazure Tillman and Leilah Jacinto, six cousins: Sandra Swanner, Mike Swanner and wife Shirley, Bobby Swanner, Phil Estes, Shelia Walker, Cynthia Strickland; uncle, Heck Strickland; Marylou’s children, Bryana Wilhelm, and Ronni Hansen and her three children: Cameron, “Tony-B” and Danica Hanson and many extended family members and friends.

He is preceded in death by his father, Hoover Strickland and sister, Berneda Flora.

Our beloved David was born December 19, 1961 in Kankakee, Illinois to Hoover Strickland and Willetta Bartol. He was known by many names: Uncle David, Henry, Baby, Strick-9 just to name a few. He was an honest man. You always knew where you stood with David. He would never mislead you or betray you. David was the protector of his family. Everyone knew that if you had problems with his family you had problems with him. He was the man of the family. The father of the family. A beacon of strength, honor and a shining star of what being a man should be. He was a master carpenter and had an eye for detail. He fulfilled a dream that most men have but few accomplish, owning your own business. He was proud of the business he built. David Strickland Construction. He was well known throughout Hampton Roads and was especially popular in Colonial Place in Norfolk. David loved being with his family. He would begin his day by sitting and having a pot of coffee with his mother talking about new projects he was working on or reminiscing about the past. Like most people, David looked forward to the weekends. He enjoyed spending time at his cousins house where a smile and a cold beer was close by; going with the love of his life, his fiancé Marylou on weekend getaways; or hitting a local bar with his sisters. David knew what life was about and lived it every moment. David valued and love everyone one in his life and felt blessed to have some many people love him… But we were the lucky ones. We’ll miss you David and we will always keep you close to our hearts.

Marylou Jacinto, David's Fiance writes:

He loved children. He was iconic to his nieces, nephews, great nieces and his fiancé’s grandchildren. He was the “Battieman” to his great niece Treazure who always needed batteries for certain toys. He was Lolo D to his fiancé’s grandchildren, and to Leilah, his other great niece who is in the learning stages of talking he was “Dabid”. To some, he could be intimidating if he was having a bad day, but not to these children who loved him no matter what. He showed up to their birthday parties with a carefully shopped for gift without reservation. He took his fiancé’s grandsons Cameron and Anthony who he called Tony B on a memorable camping trip in his cousin and best friend Mike’s backyard.

There was a time when he stayed with his sister Ruth and her family and she became closer to David during this time. “I could always go to him with a problem or just to talk and he’d listen. We never expressed feelings very much but I knew he loved me and he knew I loved him very much. There is an empty spot in my heart that my sister left, and now one beside it that my brother has left. He will be so terribly missed.”

To Nancy, his youngest sister, he wasn’t just a brother, he was a father figure turned best friend. “He was my protector, my go-to person; full of advice. We had fun times together; two adults at the bounce house at my granddaughter, Treazure’s birthday party at and we were the ones doing all the bouncing. In fact, David pulled me off the slide to get to the top before me. He was a kid at heart and not afraid to show it. Like my sister Ruth, there is a space in my heart that will never be filled. Words cannot express the loneliness I will feel without having him around.”

To his mother, Willetta, he was her protector and confidant. Every morning, their day started over a cup of coffee and conversation of what the day had in store. David loved his family, and would protect them all. “There’s nothing we couldn’t talk about, I will miss him dearly. I had to bury one child, already, and I thought that was tough, but to have to bury a second is more than I can bear. I keep waiting for him to join me at the table, and though he’s not doing it physically, I know he is right there beside me having his cup of coffee too.”

David Strickland was and always will be the love of my life. “I’ve loved you for thirty years, girl” is what he often told me. We loved camping and going to the mountains. Just recently, I got him going to the beach more often, and he said he’d gone to the beach this past summer more than he has in the last ten years. I got him to drink wine, and he would enjoy a glass with a meal I cooked for him. He loved my cooking. I will miss cooking for him. We had been in and out of each other’s life over the years, and this time he told me was for keeps, and on New Year’s Eve, he proved it when he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. How could we know that the Lord would call him one month later? I’m sure that He has the answer and we will never know. I take comfort in knowing that he died happy, now that things were starting to fall into place. We said I love you each morning and each night. A part of me died with him that Thursday evening, and I will feel the pain from this loss for a very long time. Rest easy my love.

Sandra Swanner, David's cousin writes:

David is a big part of the Swanner family. He, Mike ("Miguel"), Bobby, Jeff and me (Sandera, he called me) grew up together. Mom loved him like her own. We all have lots of stories to tell about those days, like driving fast cars, learning a trade, our first apartment together and none will not be forgotten. We spent lots of time with the "fam" around the fire barrel in the winter and cook outs in the summer, and Uncle Heck "making" him have a drink with him. He was proud of his "bar-b-que" from his smoker and his "special" sauce. He and Mike worked together on projects recently, not "well" all the time but they were "tight" and bickering didn't last, in minutes they were laughing together again. David told me one story, he and Mike were on a job, Mike was on the side of the house on a ladder and David heard a loud noise-and if you knew David you know he always had great sound effects! David walked around the corner to find Mike laying in the bushes, legs and arms flapping trying to fight his way out! he said, like the bushes were taking him, David said all he could do was laugh and he would never forget that vision, we laughed for hours about it, (I can’t tell it like he does.) It is never a good time to lose a loved one but Heaven has another addition of our family. We will all miss him. Time will pass but love won't, he will always be in our heart. David would be mad if he knew we shed so so many tears but, soon they will be tears of happiness when we all meet in heaven and all of our family will be together again. We have to wait for now.....

A celebration of life will be held at 6:30 pm, Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at Smith and Williams Funeral Home, Kempsville Chapel. Please share your condolences with the family at www.smithandwilliamskempsville.com