Sheila Kendrick Strickland

“Angels walk among us, sometimes the only thing we may not see are the wings upon their backs.”

 Molly Friedenfeld

 A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR SHEILA CLARK KENDRICK STRICKLAND October 4, 1966 - February 20, 2025

Sheila Strickland, age 58, departed this life on February 20, 2025, after a brief illness at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, March 2 at 2:00pm at Lea and Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN, with Bro. Jon Bell of Poplar Corner Baptist Church and Bro. Dennis Neenan of Bethel Community Church officiating. Burial will follow at Zion Methodist Cemetery in the Belle Eagle/Rudolph Community. Visitation will be held for family and friends on Saturday, March 1 from 4:00-6:00pm at Lea and Simmons Funeral Home.

Sheila was born on October 4, 1966, in Haywood County to the late Bill Kendrick and Shirley Kendrick and was a member of Poplar Corner Baptist Church in Brownsville. She was extremely proud to be born into the Kendrick Family, with their 155-year history in Haywood County, and treasured her family (and family-friends) more than anything. Though she never had children of her own, she considered her one niece and two nephews as hers, along with several of her close friend's children. Her love for children began when she was 10-years old and worked in her aunt's daycare. She never met a child she could not connect with and showered them with affection at every turn. Sheila had a passion for the shoebox ministry with Samaritan's Purse, beginning at Allen Baptist Church, and became the official "Shoebox Lady" at Poplar Corner Baptist Church where she was in charge of collecting items for each age group of children. She loved to shop for items to place in the boxes and spent much of her own money to make each box special. Last year she oversaw filling 250 boxes for children across the world.

She was blessed with very special life-long "sisters" (Amanda Glidewell Neal, Kim Tillman, Joanne Mathias Smith, Leanne Colvett King and Loretta Elrod Fillion) who would take her to football games, concerts, and various special outings and never failed to include her in their own life's challenges and joys. These "sisters" gave her experiences that she might well have missed out on. She truly loved them with all her heart.

She was a loyal Tomcat and Vols fan, often painting her toenails purple and orange for the season. 

Her last job was with Wilbert Burial Vaults in Jackson, TN before she was declared legally blind. Numerous health issues plagued her, but she very seldom complained, and never let it stop her from living life as best as she could. She was fiercely independent despite life's setbacks, living on her own for nine years. She could be seen walking from her East College Street apartment to the Dollar Store a few hundred yards from her home several times a week. With limited income because of her disability, she always put others before herself and helped those who were less fortunate, especially children. She cared for her father after his second wife, Jane, was hospitalized and visited with him several times a week while he was a resident at Crestview Health Care Center. She spent the last year and a half with her mother as a companion and helper.

She is survived by her mother, Shirley Kendrick, of Brownsville, TN; two brothers, Mark Kendrick (Dale) and Kenny Kendrick (Dede), both of Brownsville, TN, one niece, Carol Kendrick, and two nephews, Will Kendrick and Caleb Kendrick, and numerous friends and extended family members. She was preceded in death by her husband of six years, Michael Strickland, and her father, William E. (Bill) Kendrick.

Pallbearers for the service are Will Kendrick, Caleb Kendrick, Andy Roney, Jay Roney, Brandon Smith and John Warren.

The family requests memorials be sent to Poplar Corner Baptist Church, 1010 Boyd Ave., Brownsville, TN 38012 for the Samaritan's Purse shoebox ministry.

All arrangements and services are under the direction of Lea and Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN.