Dolores Blanton Strickland, 76, of Fayetteville, went home to be with the Lord, her mother, and older brother on December 19, 2016. She was born in Winston-Salem, NC on August 25, 1940. She grew up up in Fayetteville and graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1958. She was an inspiration to her entire family when she graduated from Methodist University with honors in 1994.

Dolores worked with the Fayetteville City School System for many years and was a second grade teacher at Glendale Elementary and J.W. Seabrook Elementary. Her love for children and passion for teaching brought her much happiness and enriched the lives of all her students.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, James Nathan Strickland of the home; son, James Nathan Strickland Jr. of Fayetteville; daughter, Brenda Strickland Benjamin (Randall) of Norfolk, VA; granddaughters, Crystalyn M. Coppedge (Dwayne), Sarah E. Smith (Danny), and Emily H. Benjamin; great-grandchildren, Kayla Coppedge, Dwayne Coppedge Jr., and Ethan Smith; sister, Gwendolyn Lovick of Wade; and brother, James E. Blanton of Morehead City, NC.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at 11 am in Jernigan Warren Chapel. The burial will follow at LaFayette Memorial Park on Ramsey Street. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10 to 11 am at the funeral home.

Dolores loved her family, travelling, children and animals. Over the years, she generously contributed to many organizations who supported causes that were dear to her. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.