Curtis “Boyd” Strickland

Mr. Curtis “Boyd” Strickland, 64, of Gainesville passed away Monday, December 7, 2020 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 11, 2020 in the Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home. Rev. Boone Strickland, Rev. Phil Carpenter, Shane Mathis, Sr., Shane Mathis, Jr, and Graham Williams will officiate. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 9th from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday, December 10th from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Born on December 5, 1956 in Gainesville, he was the son of the late “C. C.” and Ruby Pauline Reed Strickland. A graduate of Gainesville High School, Mr. Strickland also graduated from the Hall County Fire Academy and Lanier School for Paramedic. He was a fireman and owned and operated Strickland Auto Sales. Mr. Strickland was a member of Sugar Hill Baptist Church.

Boyd Strickland was and has been someone who embodied what it meant to be a beloved native of Gainesville, GA. From a very young age, he was seen as someone who with hard work and dedication could achieve great things.  As a young boy, he was one of the very first attendees of the Hall County Education system who was awarded the Presidential Award for Fitness and Running. It was this young ambition and passion that guided him to his saving faith in Jesus Christ at the age of ten years old.  It was there at Grace Baptist Church that he was saved and baptized. This was only the beginning of a life full of success and admiration. Boyd went on to become a Lieutenant for the Hall County Fire Department for 20 years. While serving with the fire department he was awarded the Governor’s Award for heroism for saving the life of a local civilian who was in despair. Boyd continued on in his career to become a business owner in his community. From 1996 to present he owned and operated Strickland Auto Sales. This choice of work is what fueled his passion for being an avid collector of automotive antiques. Although Boyd’s most priceless titles were loving husband, son, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather, he was also known for being a professional softball player, gospel recording artist, and collector of Harleys and antiques.

Nothing can compare to his life changing impact he had on both his family and friends. He will be forever missed by everyone he knew.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Strickland is preceded in death by his sister, Johnnie Wilson; brothers, Bob Strickland, Bill Strickland and brother in law, Ronald Farmer.

Mr. Strickland is survived by his wife of 30 years, Patti Free Strickland of Gainesville; son and daughter in law, Shane Mathis Sr. and Terri of Gainesville; grandson and wife, Shane Mathis, Jr. and Victoria of Monroe; granddaughter, Mikayla Mathis (Jaydon Smith) of Braselton; grandson, Hunter Mathis of Gainesville; great grandson, Adler Smith of Braselton; sister, Jean Farmer of Gainesville; brother and sister in law, Rev. Boone and Ann Strickland of Gainesville; sisters in law, Linda Strickland of Gainesville, Margaret Strickland of Gainesville; sister in law and brother in law, Kim and Scott Robertson; brothers in law and sisters in law, Rodney and Dawn Free of Gainesville, Steve and Donna Free of Gainesville, Scotty and Barbie Free of Gainesville; sister in law and brother in law, Lesia and Thadd Wallace of Gainesville and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Sugar Hill Baptist Church 3250 Athens Hwy, Gainesville, GA 30507 or to Troy Burns Family Ministry Foundation P.O. Box 1511 Fletcher, NC 28732.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.