Cindy Austin Strickland

On Tuesday, August 17, 2021, Cindy ended her long fight with cancer and was welcomed into her Heavenly Father's arms. She owed a debt of gratitude to so many doctors and nurses at offices and hospitals locally and in Atlanta, Georgia. Especially Dr. Anil Pillai and nurse, Tasha Thomas .Thank you to the caring hospice workers and volunteers, too. They eased Cindy into the next stage of life and were always available.

Cindy was born in Washington D.C. The first half of her childhood was in Virginia and the second half in Alabama. She graduated from Dothan High School in 1974. She then graduated from Chipola Jr. College in Marianna, Florida, majoring in voice.

In 1976, Cindy married James Richard Eldredge, Jr. in Michigan. They had a beautiful baby boy they named James.

Cindy had many interests: family, friends, food, watercolor painting, singing, art, and dogs. She also truly loved nature. She used to say she just did not like the heat and mosquitoes. She preferred watching nature from the indoors out.

In 1984, she married the love of her life, John, who flew in the USAF. They had a great time traveling to many places, their favorite being California. There, they loved making trips to museums, art galleries, missions, and all the attractions possible.

Most of her work life she worked in elementary schools. Lambs Elementary in Charlestown, SC provided her with the most fulfilling work as it allowed her to use her creative skills to show children with learning disabilities new and fun ways of learning. Cindy also worked for a couple years at Middle Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins, Georgia.

When it was time for John to retire, they went back home to Alabama for a few years. The last part of her life, Cindy and John moved to Byron, GA where they built a house. She had great fun making this house a home and making the best friends ever! Her life became one of playing cards, going to ladies luncheons, painting, photography, and gardening. Cindy enjoyed visiting her relatives and friends who all will miss so her very much.

Both of Cindy's parents, Russel P. Austin and Louise Austin, and brother, Russel P. Austin, Jr., preceded her in death.

Cindy leaves behind her loving husband of 37 years, John W. Strickland, her son, James Eldredge, her grandsons, Dakota, William and Lucas, her sister, Peggy Richards, her nephew, Jeremy Alphord, niece, Starla, great-nieces, Kaleigh Harper and Jaycee Miranda, great- nephew, Kyle Franklin, her cousins, Robert Powell, Deborah McCallister, Sharon Galphin, Denice Papac and brothers-in-law, David and Roy (Cathy) Strickland.

Cindy also wanted to acknowledge her very special friend of 43 years, Sheila Vaughn. Although they rarely saw each other, they spoke often and were as close as sisters were.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service. Cindy will be inurned at Parkway Memorial Gardens. For friends unable to attend at this time, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

Learn more about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at www.mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.