Willie Strickland

Willie Lee Strickland, Sr., age 70, of Erie, passed away suddenly on Monday November 9, 2015. He was born in Ellisville, MS on June 21, 1945, a son of Robert Strickland and the late Annie Ruth Whigham-Strickland.

Willie graduated from East High School where he was a standout in wrestling and track. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a member of Second Baptist Church and the Smith & Barney Post 700. He was a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan. He loved reading everything, yard work, fishing and spending time with his grandkids. He was a hero to his family in every aspect of their lives.

In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie Jean Sharp Strickland and a sister Edna Odom.

He is survived by two sons: Jerry L. and Willie Lee Strickland, Jr.; two daughters: Devona (Curtis) Pratt and Selena Strickland; three brothers: Robert Lee Jr. (Essie), Charles Edward and Douglas Ray Strickland; three sisters: Ruth Carolyn Strickland, Teresa Ann (Willie) Morgan, and Eula Lee Strickland; nineteen grandchildren: Dyvon, Kevin, Dante’, Dalaysha, Love, Kiyana, Shakell, ShaMaun, ShaPree, ShaKeim, Jaydalese, Dariah, De’Mere, Jadan, CJ, Asia, Erica, Jerrea, and Jerry Jr.; his nine great-grandchildren. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends such as his Bestest friend/sister Joyce Thompson and Best friend Ben Jones.

Friends are invited to call on the family wearing Cleveland Browns colors on Monday from 5-8pm at Burton Wintergreen Funeral Home (across from Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery), 2532 Norcross Rd., Erie, PA 16510 and are invited to attend the Home Going Service on Tuesday at 11AM, at Second Baptist Church, 757 E. 26th St., Erie, PA 16504 with Rev. Dr. A.B. Green presiding. Burial will be in Erie County Memorial Gardens.