Edna L. Strode

EDNA LOUISE WALKER STRODE, passed from death unto eternal life with Jesus, Saturday, August 29,2015. Griffith Cline Funeral Home is ministering to the needs of the family.The service of praise and celebration to God will be at Bible Baptist Church, Friday, September 4th with visitation at 10AM, the service at 11AM with Pastor Sal Yannizzi conducting the service and Brother Jim Pierce the special music.There will be a luncheon afterward in the fellowship hall. Bible Baptist Church is located at 2113 Morgan Johnson Road, Bradenton, Florida. Grandma was born in Sulfur Lick, Kentucky, June 15, 1915 to Joseph David Walker and Cordelia Kitty Bird Smith of Kentucky being the 12th child. She outlived all her siblings reaching 100 years and 75 days, with one granddaughter, Rhonda Hollifield, one great grandson, David McPherson, and one great-great granddaughter,Carly McPherson preceding her in death. She grew up around her family working in her father's blacksmith shop,gristmill and sawmill, but her specific job was picking worms off the tobacco plants. For entertainment the family made room by taking down all the beds in the house and playing their fiddles, guitars, banjos, and mandolins . Little Edna was the only family member that did not play a musical instrument so she was known as the family jigger and her siblings known all over southern Kentucky and Tennessee by radio. Edna met her husband Ralph Strode who had just moved into the area when he was walking down the dirt road near her home. They caught each other's gaze and it was love at first sight. A few months after meeting in 1933, they did not own a car so they hitched a I5 mile ride with the mailman to the courthouse where the judge married them .They have two daughters,Betty (Robert, Sr.) Hollifield of Bradenton, Florida and Wilma (Joseph) Ellison of Lansing, illinois. Ralph and Edna loved to travel together and took several trips across the country and visited most of the United States. Some of their travels were done before there were hotels along the routes and they would pull their car off along side of the road and spend the night A few times they woke to an unfriendly farmer that was upset because they had parked in his cow pasture. Ralph and Edna worked alongside each other helping their family and friends in any way they could. They were great companions even when remodeling their homes. They were married 44 years before Ralph died in 1977. Grandma Edna was employed in several interesting positions in her younger years. She worked at American Chemical,was a small scale chicken farmer, a seamstress at a shirt factory and a high school cafeteria cashier in Indiana where her eldest and only grandson, Robert Hollifield, Jr.,(Bradenton, FL) attended. Her job that all the family likes to remember is from Queen Anne Candies. She was a cordial cherry packer. Her great, great grandchildren think about her position at Queen Anne when watching the famous 1952 episode of "I Love Lucy'' when Lucy and Ethel also packed those chocolates. One of Edna's favorite titles she has earned is Grandma and most people call her "Grandma" even though they're not related. But she has earned the title with 11 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 21 great-great grandchildren. Grandma has lived in Kentucky and Indiana but was a full time resident of Bradenton. FL for 26 years. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church of Bradenton for 15 years and in 2010 joined Bible Baptist Church of Bradenton. At 14 years old, she was baptized in a creek alongside her home church in Kentucky. She has been active in the ladies mission guild and the birthday club. Gardening, cooking, sewing and crocheting were a few of her hobbies. She has won several blue ribbons in the County Fair for her embroidery and cooking. She has a blue ribbon coleslaw recipe with an interesting ingredient called "Grandma's Secret Sauce" and if you have had a piece of her blue ribbon cherry pie you cannot forget it She never tired of making quilts for her 10 grandbabies, and embroiderd birth records for the next generation of 24 great grandchildren which they all cherish. She has had a great impact on their lives. Her entire life has been centered on her family and spending as much time with them as she could. She exemplifies the definition of "Grandma" as she has a heart of gold and displays sweetness. A typical visit to Grandma's home would be a walk in the yard to view her beautiful flowers, some iced tea on the porch and some of her famous coleslaw at dinner. Grandma was an avid record keeper filling the pages of a diary for each of 50 plus years with daily activities, triumphs and trials. These diaries are a good source of reference for her family and cherished words for future generations . Though unsteady in her feet, at 100 years old, Grandma bad the physical strength of most 50 year old women. Though limited in her speech from a stroke 5 years ago, she was in good health all her days. When she celebrated her 75th birthday, she mentioned she didn't think she would live to be old but joked she just might live to be 105. In June we celebrated her 100th with a houseful of family and a few friends. The newspaper put her picture and article on the front page of the "Observer". But the highlight and most memorable part of that time together was when Grandma led all who were here to the Throne of Grace in prayer for her family. And with 70 family members resulting from her and her husband the prayer was quite lengthy but surely TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. Families are like quilts, lives pieced together, Stitched with smiles and tears, Colored with memories, And bound by love. The Family of Edna Walker Strode and Ralph Franklin Strode: Betty and Bob Hollifield, Sr. Bob, Jr. and Susan Hollifield Brian and Kisha Hollifield Aubrey, Hannah and Wyatt Hollifield Sarah and Chrisi Hollifield Rhonda Hollifield Debbie and Forrest McPherson Chris and Kerry McPherson Jacob, Anna, Emily McPherson Jolene and Larry Clark Carly, Ethan Clark David McPherson Bonnie and Scott Frade Stacy and Rob Schnelle Adam, Isabella Manning Selena and Dave Weaver Noah, Natalie Weaver Samantha and Braden Bollmer Mallory Ann, Jacob Bollmer Benjamin and Megan Frade Joseph Judah Frade Katie Frade Karen and Nino Muffoletto Amy and Joe Corkins Kayla, Kyndal, Joshua Corkins Adam Hillmann Kyle Hillmann Kathy Hollifield Jamie and Tony Brinkman Dakota Brinkman Taylor Kender Gloria and Paul Shirey Lexi, Tyler, Mallory Paige Shirey Wilma and Joe Ellison Brenda Ellison Pam and Roland Dennis Nigel Dennis Stephanie - Tim Broomhead Judy and Emily Ellison Dana Gammon Sydney, Taylor, Destiny Gammon Peter, Levi Gammon Praise God From Whom All Blesings Flow 2 Girls 11 Grand Children, 1 Boy 10 Girls 25 Great Grand Children, 6 Boys 19 Girls 21 Great-Great Grandchildren, 10 Boys 11 Girls 58 Total by Birth, 19 Spouses, Total 78