ANNIE N. STRICKLAND

Annie Neighbors Strickland, 97, widow of Stephen Monroe Strickland, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Berkeley County, she was a daughter of the late Henry Telpher Neighbors and Lula Vance Moore Neighbors. Mrs. Strickland was the oldest member of First Baptist Church, Sumter, and was also a member of the International Order of the Kings Daughters in Charleston. A former longtime resident of Charleston, she began her musical career at the age of nine as a church pianist and she was a retired accomplished musician and teacher of both piano and voice. She instilled her love of music and devotion to God in many students throughout her years of teaching in Charleston and was the recipient of numerous awards

Surviving are two daughters, Norma Strickland Tolbert of Cashiers, N.C., and Dorothy Anne Strickland Miller of Hendersonville, Tenn.; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Jeanne Strickland Brown.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles T. Clanton officiating. Burial followed in Evergreen Memorial Park.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.