Eva Fairfax Strickland, of Tabor City, departed for her Heavenly home Sunday, July 12, 2015. She was born February 22, 1931, a daughter of the late Alex and Mamie Hilbourn Fairfax. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Elton Farley Strickland, Sr.; two brothers, Wade Fairfax and A.J. Fairfax; two sisters, Essie Fairfax Adams and Sue Fairfax Blackmon. She is survived by her son, Farley Strickland, Jr. and wife Melanie of Wingate; daughters, Evie Strickland Bates of Phoenix, AZ; and Mamie Strickland Kerr and her husband Graham of Castle Hayne. Surviving siblings include Doris Fairfax Griffith of Harleyville, SC; Diantha Fairfax Cartrette of Lake Waccamaw, Oylanda Fairfax Suggs of Loris, SC and Bill Fairfax of Green Sea, SC. She had eleven grandchildren who were her pride and joy. Eva was a member of Cherry Grove Baptist Church for over six decades, where she sang in the choir and served her Lord in many capacities. She also helped her husband manage their farm and worked as a substitute teacher in the Tabor City Schools. Eva was an avid gardener and delighted in growing beautiful flowers and preserving many fruits and vegetables. She was also an excellent seamstress and quilter, making many clothes and quilts to be passed down through the years. She was a faithful visitor of the sick and elderly in her community and will always be remembered for her caring and generous spirit. Eva spent her last year and a half in the wonderful and attentive care of the Hermitage House Dementia Care Facility of Castle Hayne. She made it her home and was regarded as the "Queen Bee" of the facility. Her family will be forever grateful for the exceptional care and love she received there. They would also like to thank Lower Cape Fear Hospice for their assistance in making sure her last days were comfortable and secure. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 PM Wednesday July 15, 2015 at Meares Funeral Home, Fair Bluff. Graveside
services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday July 16, 2015 at Cherry Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Published in the Wilmington Star-News on July 15, 2015