Sherrell Lavon Strickland, age 81, of Statenville, Georgia passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta.

Lavon was born on January 31, 1933 in Valdosta, Georgia to the late Lee Roy and Lula Tomlinson Strickland. He was educated in the Echols County School System and graduated valedictorian of his class. As a young man he joined the Air Force and served his country for four years. It was during this time in his life that he met and married the love of his life, Patricia Jones. Upon leaving the Air Force he went to work  as a forester with The Langdale Company. He later acquired employment with the Department of Natural Resources as a forester until his retirement. He was a man of many talents one of which included tinkering with and fixing anything that was broke and worth working on. Lavon was most assuredly a man of character, well respected in the community for his integrity and will be missed by everyone in the community and surrounding counties that knew him. Mr. Strickland was a longtime member and deacon at Statenville Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Patricia Jones Strickland of Statenville; one son, Kenneth L. Strickland and his wife Jennifer of Hahira, GA.; one daughter, Donna Kay Maine of Statenville, GA.; one sister, Jewell Carter and her husband Garland also of Statenville; seven grandchildren, Casey Herndon (Dennis), Eric Bolesta (Jessica), Chance Maine, Brandy Maine, Helen Strickland, Brad Glisson and Malissa Glisson; and one great granddaughter on the way.

Funeral services were held  Friday, April 11, 2014 at Statenville Baptist Church with Rev. Ted Sauls officiating. Interment followed at Sassers Landing Cemetery near Jennings, FL.