Connie Strickland Bearden

Connie Strickland Bearden, 59, of 3496 Ernest Brown Road, Elberton, wife of 39 years to the late Vernon Paul Bearden, passed away Tuesday morning, July 3, 2012, at Athens Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Bearden was born in Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, November 27, 1952, to the late DeWitt, Sr. and Mildred Todd Strickland. She was a retired warper in the textile industry and of the Christian faith. Left to cherish her memories are her children, Greg Bearden of Elberton and Tina Gilchrist of Lowdnesville, South Carolina; two brothers, DeWitt Strickland, Jr. and Donnie Strickland; and five grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by brothers, Larry Strickland and Jerry Strickland. Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 2PM Friday, July 6, in the Welcome Wesleyan Church with the Rev. Jerry Dalton officiating. Interment will follow in the Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery with Richie Rice, Danny White, Matthew Allen, Sammy Owen, Len Dunn and Charlie Wansley serving as pallbearers. Mrs. Bearden will be placed in the church at 1PM to lie instate until the service hour. The Bearden family will receive friends at Berry Funeral Home from 6-8PM Thursday evening. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family in her honor to help offset medical and funeral expenses. Share your stories and photos in Mrs. Bearden's Book of Memories at www.berryfh.com. Berry Funeral Home & Crematory, Elberton, is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Connie Strickland Bearden.