Geneva Darlene Radford Strickland lived a full life marked by faith, family, and generosity. The beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother was plain-spoken, sharp-minded, always curious –and blessed with a remarkable memory. Having lived in the Old Fourth Ward, East Lake, downtown Decatur, and South DeKalb County neighborhoods, she was a “walking librarian” on Atlanta’s Black History.

She had many friends, and her late husband, Ollie Strickland Jr. (December 1936 - August 2025), was the love of her life and close friend; they married shortly after graduating from Herring High School in Decatur. During their 70-year union, they had three daughters. Their oldest daughter, Charissee Hull (1955 - 1988), preceded them in death.

At the center of her life was a deep and abiding faith in God. For 62 years, Geneva was a devoted member of First Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in southeast Atlanta. Prayer was also part of her everyday life. She journaled often, and each entry began with the words, “Thank you, God, for everything,” followed by her familiar prayer, “Please bless all those within the sound of my voice.”

That spirit of gratitude, generosity, faith, and concern for others is the legacy she leaves with all who knew and loved her. Her faith kept her strong and always forgiving during troubling times of racial segregation, abusive discrimination, and loss.

The youngest of five children, Geneva Strickland was born December 2, 1936, in Decatur, Georgia, to the parents Eva Julia Griffin Radford and Thurman “Pete” Radford.

For nearly 40 years, as a certified early childcare teacher, Geneva helped to nurture and educate over 400 babies and preschoolers before retiring in September 2007.

In addition to her husband and daughter, she was also preceded in death by her siblings, Thelma Huff (1925 - 2025), Johnny Clifford Radford (1932 - 2021), Mary Radford O’Neil (1934 - 2019), and Maude Alice Radford Brown (1935 - 2018).

Those left to cherish her memory are daughters, Kim Anderson and Jill Strickland; grandchildren, Tracey Anderson, Chelsea Hull, Darron Anderson, Brian Anderson (Georgette), and Eden Luse; great-grandchildren, Wendel Ridley Jr. (Sequoia); Cierra Hull, Darron Anderson Jr. and Kaylin Reese Anderson; great-great-grandchildren: Cevyn, Raya and Raylin; sons-in-Law: Gregory, Jerome and Keith; her oldest surviving niece, Annie Mae Hood, and a host of friends, beautiful and loving nieces, nephews, and cousins who reside across Georgia.

Celebration of Life Services will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026; 11:00 A.M. at First Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 816 Maynard Terrace, SE Atlanta, Georgia 30316. Bishop Victor D. Tate, officiating. The remains will be placed in state at 10:00 A.M. Interment Kennedy Memorial Gardens.

Family and friends are asked to assemble at the church at 10:30 A.M.

Donald Trimble Mortuary, Inc., 1876 Second Avenue (404) 371-0772-3.