Helen "Ellen" Lowery Strickland, 84, of Laurinburg, died Monday, March 10, 2008.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. today (Friday, March 14), at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Laurinburg. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Strickland was born in Columbia, S.C., a daughter of the late Joe and Emma L. Lowery. She was the wife of the late Clemon Strickland, whom she worked with as co-owner and operator of the North Main Grocery Store, Laurinburg.

"She was a devoted mother and homemaker," says a family member.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Lonnie Strickland; and all of her siblings.

Mrs. Strickland is survived by four daughters, Virginia "Vinia" Bryant and her husband, David, of Laurinburg, Marie Simmons and her husband, William "Bill," of Spartanburg, S.C., Betty Deese and her husband, Robert "Bobby," of Maxton, and Carolyn Mullins and her husband, Mike, of Titusville, Fla.; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Richard Boles Funeral Service, Laurinburg, is assisting the family.