Nannie Bet Rose Strickland

NASHVILLE - Nan Rose Strickland, 104, went to her heavenly home Tuesday, November 17, 2020. She was born on November 21, 1915, the first of nine children of Parrie Lee and George Rose. Nan was born in the Beulah Community. Her family lived in the Rose Ridge area of Nash County where she attended Red Oak School.She was married to the late Millard Strickland in 1940 and the couple moved to the Oak Level community around the time of World War II. The couple then moved to Rocky Mount and after the birth of their children, they moved to Nashville. Millard started his business, Strickland Equipment Company, while Nan worked in a Nashville store in the printing department. She helped feed soldiers while living in the Oak Level area and during the time she was working at a drug store in Rocky Mount.Nan also worked at Nashville Elementary School and then Northern Nash, where she was the cafeteria manager.She is remembered as one to sow seeds of hope, love and faith.Even after serving as the cafeteria manager, Strickland continued serving others through food, giving friends, family and even strangers food from her garden. She would later find glory in serving those in need at the Compassion Cafe in Nashville. At the age of 97, Nan was still up early every morning tending her garden. In a 2013 interview, she told The Nashville Graphic, “When I die, I hope they sing “In the Garden” because it’s my favorite thing,” she said. While living in the Oak Level area, she became a member of Oak Level Baptist Church joining the choir and teaching Sunday school She also was involved with the Young Girls in Action (G.A.) program.She later became a member of Nashville Baptist Church where she also worked with the G.A. program, taught Sunday school, participated in the Woman’s Missionary Union, and sang in the choir. Kindness and Jesus were two of Nan’s passions. Love one another, eat healthy, don’t judge others were words she lived by.Nan was dearly loved by all communities she touched. She was honored by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce in 1997 with the Distinguished Citizen Award and also named the Blooming Festival Mother of the Year in 2014.In addition to her husband, Nan is preceded in death by her parents, George S. Rose and Parrilee Kennedy Rose; sisters; Loretta Rose, Molly Rose Vick; brothers, Henry Lee Rose, Garland Rose, Merriet Rose, Ralph Rose, Cliff Rose. Nan is survived by her daughter, Barbara S. Harris (Jerry) and her son Ross Strickland (Paula); grandchildren, Digit Harris (Jana), Michelle H. Sasser (Tim), Major Binford R. Strickland (Kristina), Matt Strickland (Maria) and Coley S. Smith (Shawn); eight great grandchildren, Hollis Harris (Raina), Grayson Harris, Hannah Sasser Merritt (James), Claxton Sasser (Hailey Lancaster); Matthew Strickland, Brian Strickland, Savannah Strickland, and Lucy Nan Strickland; her brother, Curtis Rose (Peggy); sisters-in-law Belle M. Rose, Myrtle L Rose; brother-in-law J.T. Vick. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Nash County Senior Center, 103 N. Alston Street, Nashville, NC 27856 or to the charity of your choice. A funeral service will be held Saturday, November 21, 2020 at 11. a.m at Nashville Baptist Church, 512 E. Washington Street, Nashville. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. The family requests that masks be worn and to practice social distancing. The service will also be livestreamed at https://www.nashvillebaptistchurch.org

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Nannie Bet Rose Strickland

November 21, 1915 - November 17, 2020