Mrs. Doris Mae Smith Strickland, age 87, of Wilmington passed peacefully on December 3, 2019 at the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Life Center of Wilmington, NC. She was born on June 22, 1932 in Erwin, NC to Gayland and Mary Smith. She was married for 53 years to Jim Strickland who preceded her in death.

She was the loving mother of 3 daughters, Yolanda (Jack) Evans of Wilmington, Rhonda (Dwight) Gainey of Raleigh and Sondra (Robert) Baty of Charleston, SC; 7 grandchildren, Sara, Leah (Adam), Jonathan (Jamie), Leslie, Jessica, Rob and Miranda; 7 great-grandchildren who brought so much joy to her life. She is also survived by an extended loving family of 5 brothers, Edward Smith (Becky), Harold Smith (Pat), Tommy Smith (Barbara), Jimmy Smith (Terry) and James Smith (Dana); 5 sisters, Virginia Warren (W.O.), Margaret Byrd (Dwight), Debbie Carrol (Walter), Vicki Busch (Howard) and Jennifer Godwin (Ashley). Doris will be remembered for her love of nature, her love of family and her love of helping others.

The family will receive friends Saturday, December 7, 2019 at O'Quinn-Peebles-Phillips Funeral Home in Lillington from 1:00-1:45 PM. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 PM in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Daniel Selman officiating. A private burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Dunn.

Memorials may be made to your local Hospice or St. Judes Children's Hospital in her name.