Ruby Laverne (Autry) Strickland

Stedman

Mrs. Ruby Laverne Autry Strickland, age 93, of 1821 Bainbridge Rd, Stedman, NC., passed gently into her Heavenly home Saturday morning, May 10, 2025, in Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, following a brief illness.

She was born September 14, 1931, to the late Henry Clyde and Alma Jane Pope Autry of Stedman, NC. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Randolph Strickland, her son, Rev. Clyde Randal Strickland, brothers: Henry Kenneth Autry, Floyd Leon Autry, William Seymore Autry, Percy Theodore Autry, Jesse Colon Autry, and her sister Muriel Evelyn Autry.

She was a long-time member of Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church, later moving her family and membership to Stedman Pentecostal Holiness Church, where her family would serve along with her son Rev. Randal Strickland serving as Pastor for 30 years.

Her whole life was a testament of service to God and others. First, on the farm and at home as a dutiful daughter fulfilling the responsibilities of assisting her mother and Dad with the day-to-day chores of cooking, cleaning, keeping house, as well as taking care of her younger brothers. As a young teenage girl, she and two friends, Sadie and Daisey Faircloth would form a Ladies trio traveling the community ministering in music, as well as appearing on local radio stations singing during broadcast of church programs.

On December 24,1949 she married Randolph Strickland and became a wife and mother. Her life of service continued as she poured herself into the lives of her husband and six children. Her gift of service to God and family, carries on through the lives of her children, thirteen grandchildren, twenty-nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

She was a mother of great courage, faith, and steadfast compassion, always serving with dedication and a spirit of humbleness that attracted others, both to her Lord and Savior and to herself. Her meek, humble spirit, encouraging manner and willingness to serve others is her legacy that will continue to future generations.

Surviving her are daughters, Ruby Darlene Fisher (Jimmy) and Anita Florence Williams (Harold) all of Stedman; three sons: David Allen Strickland (Beverly) of Stedman, Leonard Douglas Strickland (Judy) of White Oak, Michael Wayne Strickland (Angela), and her brother, Claude Leonard Autry all of Stedman.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church, 6535 Oak Grove Church Road, Stedman, NC  28391 in honor of the Randolph and Laverne Strickland Family and the Clyde and Alma Autry family.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, May 16, 2025 at Oak Grove PFWB Church.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Services entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 6535 Clinton Road, Stedman, NC  28391.