Nikki Jo Strickland

Nikki Jo Strickland, 23, passed away Monday, August 3, 2009, at St. Bernards Medical Center. She was born Jan. 17, 1986, in Jonesboro and lived most of her life in the Bono area. She was a 2004 graduate of Westside High School where she was a member of the basketball, softball and volleyball teams. She was also a member of the Mashers Softball team. Nikki attended Williams Baptist College on a softball scholarship. She was a member of the Union Grove United Methodist Church but attended The Rock Church of Northeast Arkansas.

Survivors include her parents, Coral and Bruce Sutterfield of Bono; a brother, Eric Strickland; a sister, Kimberly Strickland both of Jonesboro; two nephews, Blayz Faulkner and Keaton Strickland; a niece, Jaelyn Strickland; her grandparents, Jerry and Margarete Reed of Monette, John and Sandra Carr of Tumbling Shoals, Bob and Teresa Sutterfield of Mt. View and Marcie Strickland of Monette; several aunts, uncles and cousins.

A celebration of her life was held on Thursday at 2.00 p.m. at The Rock Church of Northeast Arkansas with Revs. Terry Watson and Jerry Reed officiating. Burial followed in Union Grove Cemetery under the direction of Gregg Funeral Home in Jonesboro.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Michael Gantt, Jr. Gantt, Jarrett Barks, Matt Drew, Chris Talley and Trakis Donaldson and as honorary pallbearers, the Westside Class of 2004 and the Mashers Softball Team.

The family requests lasting memorial be sent to the Phil and Flo Jones Hospice House, 400 East St. Jonesboro, AR 72401 or the Melanoma Research Foundation, 170 Township Line Road, Building B., Hillsbrough, NJ 08844.

The family would like to thank everyone for all the prayers, cards, phone calls and other kind deeds during Nikki's illness. A special thanks to Gordon Metzgar, Dot Butler and City Water and Light.

Condolences may be sent to the Strickland family at www.greggfunerals.com.