Mr. James "Bo" Nathan Strickland, 85, of Fayetteville, NC, died Sunday, September 25, 2022, at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. He was surrounded by his family and the loving thoughts and prayers of so many dear friends.

James was born on December 23, 1936, in Cumberland County, NC, to the late James A. Strickland and Marie Howard Strickland.  He was a graduate of Massey Hill High School and a member of Massey Hill Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores Blanton Strickland. The two married in 1958 and spent the next fifty-eight years raising two children and travelling the world whenever they could. Their adventures took them to Italy, France, England, Argentina, and many other wonderful locations.

While Dolores was his first love, the Fayetteville Fire Department was definitely his second. James served the citizens of Fayetteville as a firefighter for thirty-four years, retiring as Asst. Chief in 1994. For Chief Strickland, those he served with were never just colleagues; they were his brothers and sisters. Always.

After Dolores passed away in 2016, James found great comfort in his loving and supportive friends at Massey Hill Baptist Church. The members of that special congregation helped him to regain his sense of purpose and embrace the next chapter. His entire family will be forever grateful for their kindness.

James is survived by a daughter, Brenda Strickland Benjamin (Randall); a son, James Nathan Strickland, Jr; three granddaughters, Emily Benjamin, Crystalyn Coppedge (Dwayne), Sarah Smith (Danny); and four great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at the Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.  Burial will follow in the Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678.

Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301.

Online condolences may be made to www.jerniganwarren.com .

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/