Odee Strickland
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Iola Lillie Dee ‘Odee’ Vandores Hood Strickland, age 97,
the daughter of Tolbert Vandores Hood and Margaret Josephine
Barton Hood, was born May 21, 1912 in Baker. She grew
up in Geneva, Alabama, and Westville. On June 30,
1934, Dee was united in marriage with James William ‘Willie'
Strickland. They had three children: James R. Wimberly
(deceased), Myra Dene Strickland (deceased), and John
Pinkney Strickland of Palatka. Willie Strickland died
Saturday, December 4, 1965. Known as ‘Odee’ by her
many friends, she lived most of her adult life in Ebro.
She was a kind and warm hearted lady who always found the
good in everyone. Odee loved her family, her friends,
her community and her church. She enjoyed being with
family, traveling, fishing, picture puzzles, her dogs and
cats. Odee lived with her granddaughter for many years
on Algiers Point in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was
always happy to return to Ebro, her home.
Odee died Tuesday afternoon, January 5, 2010 in the
intensive care unit of Ochsner Medical Center in New
Orleans, Louisiana.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three half
sisters: Ida Hood Nealy of Mobile, AL, Corrine Hood Aikin of
Mobile, AL, and Margaret Stone of FL; two half brothers:
Oscar Hood and Charles Hood, both of Mobile, AL.
Those left of honor Odee’s memory include one son, John
Strickland of Palatka; four grandchildren: Cynthia McAfee of
Atlanta, GA, Claire Alexander of New Orleans, Sonya Polesnek
of Walterboro, SC, Dexter Holder of Albertville, AL; five
great grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; 4 step
grandchildren; 10 step great grandchildren; 9 step
great-great grandchildren; 1 step great-great-great
grandchild; her other relatives; and her many good friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 9, at 3
p.m. at Ebro Assembly of God Church with burial following at
Ebro Community Cemetery with Rev. Buford White officiating
and Peel Funeral Home of Bonifay directing.