Celebrating the Life of
Lawrence Strickland
November 24, 1940 — September 20, 2022
Obituary
On Tuesday, September 20, 2022, Lawrence Andrew Strickland, loving partner, and father of two passed away at age eighty-one. An avid learner, Lawrence earned a bachelor's degree in music and a master's in counseling. He spent thirty years as an air conditioning & refrigeration engineer and ten years as a math teacher for the NYC board of education. He was the first black bassist to play in the New Jersey Symphony under Henry Lewis and the third generation off the reservation from the Cherokee nation.
Lawrence was an educator at heart. He was kind and softly spoken and always had time to answer a question and solve a problem, no matter how big or small. He was best known for sharing information and fierce determination to teach young black children the power of education and knowledge to assist them in changing their journey in life. His loved ones and friends will dearly miss him.
He is survived by his wife Justine Strickland and their daughters, Fela Smith and her husband Ty Smith; Dara Solomon and her husband James Solomon; and his grandchildren Tony Smith, Kyle Strickland, Niaya Solomon, and Kaliyah Solomon. His brother Nathaniel Strickland, his wife Rosetta Strickland, and many nieces and nephews he loved dearly. He is preceded by his sister Elaine Grier and parents, James Roy Strickland Jr. and Venetia Rebecca Martin. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Lawrence's life.
Services
Memories and Condolences
Please share a photo or video, or post a heartfelt condolence to the family.
Dad and Kyle
Dad taking care of baby Fela
Easter Dinner
Proud Dad Moment after Fela and Dara won the Black Enterprise Small Business of the Year Award
Mom and Dad at Dara's reception in New York
Kyle loved those Jets
Dad's 81 Birthday. As a tradition, we reverse the candles.
Dad and mom's sisters having dinner
Thanksgiving at Fela's
Dad mowing the lawn at our house in Colorado.
Dad when we lived in Colorado.
Linda and Uncle Lawrence
Daddy and Auntie Elaine, his big sister.
Daddy looking sharp as a kid.
Daddy in his 20's
Opa, Umi, and KK at Niaya's 3rd birthday.
Opa and his pumpkin, Niaya.
Niaya showing Opa she can crawl
Kyle playing at Syracuse and NC State Games
Opa carrying his grandson Kyle on his shoulders
Opa and his grandson Kyle reading a book
Daddy's favorite, always loved to jam on his bass.
Opa and Kyle always playing chess.
Mom and Dad traveling again
Tropical Vibes
Traveling Europe with Uncle Nat, Aunt Rose, and Mom
Opa giving Kyle a big ole kiss
Soaking up the sun in the Dominican Republic.
Mom made us do it. Family portrait.
Daddy and Dara on her wedding day.
Dad's trip to Europe with mom
Dad and Uncle Nat having a chat before I walk down the aisle.
Kyle getting ready for bath time with Opa
Dad visiting Fela in California
Mom and Dad in Costa Rica
Family Christmas
Dad hanging with Fela in St. Augustines
Niaya teaching Opa how to be a card shark.
Mom and Dad cuddling
KK loved being on Opa's shoulders
Leno and Kyle
My person, who always knew how to cheer me up and motivate me. I will miss you daddy!
Dara's Wedding Uncle Nat was the only one not hot :-)
Family Apple Picking 1974
Uncle Lawrence and Richard
Lawrence as a kid.
Dad at 19 years old.
My Rock!!
Apple Picking
Dad saying hi to Turks and Cacios
Uncle Lawrence & Darrell grandson to Nathaniel Strickland, Older brother to Lawrence
Visiting Kyle at a Syracuse Game
thANKH you, Mr. Strickland for seeing me at times when I felt invisible. As a child I was envious of your daughters for having such a present and loving father. But when I became a father, you became the model of the father and man I could be. The ultimate way of showing my gratitude for what you gave to me (and many of us in Skyview) is to pay it forward and assist your grandson, Kyle, along his journey as an artist and man. Supreme Gratitude, Eternal Happiness & Ascension.
This was very shocking news to me, I send my love to the Strickland Family & Friends.
My family and I were blessed to have known Mr. Strickland. He was humble, incredibly knowledgeable on many subjects, and had a great sense of humor. I always enjoyed being in his presence and particularly looked forward to hearing his unique perspective on current and past world events. Mr. Strickland will be greatly missed by the boys and I. To Ms. Strickland, Fela, Dara, and all those who knew and loved him I pray for comfort and strength to navigate this time of loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. Lifting you and family in prayer ... and praying that God's love will continue to strengthen and comfort you. Please let me know if I can help in anyway.
It has truly been my pleasure to have known Mr. Strickland for a great majority of my life. He was a kind, gentle and wise soul. He was an awesome Spades partner. Love you much...love you always...Family you are in my prayers.
Thinking of you all as you celebrate the remarkable life of Lawrence Strickland. Please know that I am praying for the family.
Sending my love and deepest sympathy to you and the family. I will continue to keep you in my prayers.
Sending prayers and hugs to comfort you during this time. May God continue to cover you.
Sending my prayers and condolences to the family. You are in my prayers.
Family, please know you are forever in our prayers and thoughts. May God continue to strengthen you during this time. We have been blessed to have shared so many great moments with Lawerence and the family. He will forever be in our memories. Lawrence will live on through our grandchildren. Love you much...
We are so blessed to have known Lawrence. A pure gentleman inside and out. May he Rest In Peace.
Our heartfelt sorrow from our family to yours. We are separated by miles, but we will keep you lifted up in prayer.
I am so sorry for your loss.Praying God will make each day a little brighter.
My heart goes out to the family during this difficult time. My God bless and comfort the family during this time. He will be missed by everyone that knew him. Love Renae
Mr. Strickland was a kind and gentle soul. My thoughts and prayers are with Dara, Jim, and the Strickland family. May you find peace and comfort in warm memories of Mr. Strickland.
Blessed to have known such a wonderful man. Mr. Strickland has left behind a beautiful legacy with Dara & Fela. I know he is smiling down on his family
Mr. Strickland will truly be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with our family during this difficult time. “Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.”
My deepest condolences to the family. Praying and thinking of you all during this difficult time. May you find some peace and healing in the memories you have to cherish of such a life well lived.
The world was a better place because Mr. Strickland was in it. We got to know him through his daughters whose beautiful characters are a direct reflection of both him and Mrs. Strickland. We are so deeply saddened by this loss. May his memory be a blessing to his whole family.
I’m fortunate to have known the love of Mr Strickland through the kindness his daughters put into the world. Fela, as my dear friend , embodies the spir
Such a wonderful life and so we’ll lived! My thoughts are with your family and prayers for peace and comfort as you honor such an important man in your life.
Sincere Condolences - Such an amazing man…
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