Murthel Bryan Strange of Tifton died Wednesday, February 20, 2013, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 22, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in Tifton. Rev. Stephen Webb, Rev. Bruce Sack and Rev. Sam Rogers will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Chip Lee, Chip Morris, John Bowen, Michael Bowen, Bill Bowen, Gary Baxter, Chase Riddle, David Vann, Russ Vann, Greg Harten, Michael Beeman and Scott Chestnutwood will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Covenant/Christian Sunday school class and the Fellowship Sunday school class of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 22, 2013, from 3:00 p.m. until the hour of the service at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Strange was born in Buena Vista (Macon County) and was the daughter of the late Grover Bryan and Mattie Pearl Hamilton Bryan of Americus. She attended Georgia Southwestern College and was a graduate of The University of Georgia, with a major in English. She taught school in Ellaville, Dawson and at Tift County Junior High School.
Murthel married Walter G. Strange in 1947 and they moved to Tifton in 1951. She was active in Tifton’s First United Methodist Church, having served as a Sunday school teacher, a member and officer of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service, member of the Primrose Garden Club, the Junior Woman’s Club and the 20th Century Library Club. She held offices in each of these clubs. She thoroughly enjoyed playing bridge with many dear friends and was also an active sports fan.
Murthel was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Sonny Strange and her grandson, Jake Stewart.
She will be dearly missed by her husband, Walter Strange; her daughter and son-in-law, Angela and David Stewart; and her granddaughter, Mandy Stewart. Her loving and caring spirit will live on in the hearts of those who loved her. As a dear friend shared with us – “I always smile when I think of her”.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the memorial fund at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church, 107 West 12th Street, Tifton, GA 31794; of the American Diabetes Association, 5105 Paulsen Street, Suite C236, Savannah, GA 31405.