Obituary of Jimmy Strickland

Jimmy Manning Strickland, 79, of St. Petersburg, passed away March 10, 2021, peacefully at home.

Jimmy was born November 23,1941, in Dade City, FL, son of Jewel Lee Stanley and Robert Woodward Strickland. He graduated from Pasco County High School; moved to Montana, a graduate of the Air Force Academy, serving his country as a B-52 co-pilot.

He then lived many years in New Orleans, LA.  After some time in finance, he became a true and varied entrepreneur; owned American Chemical Co., was one of the original partners in SpeeDee Oil Change, was founder of Ring Chow (a Chinese food restaurant & delivery business), and owned the Frusen Gladje ice cream concessions in the 1984 Worlds Fair in New Orleans. He loved Nawlins great food (always regretting a Muffuletta from anywhere other than Central Grocery) and his many friends, played tennis, became a private pilot and enjoyed flying his planes. He later made his way back home to Florida, living in St. Petersburg, owning a freight company and a home inspection business. It is in St Pete where he met and married his wife, Tinker.

He enjoyed the Florida sunshine, playing golf, being on the water boating and fishing,  His uniform was a Tommy Bahama shirt, bermuda shorts, and a styrofoam cup! He cooked great meals and enjoyed feeding people (nothing beat a Jimmy burger). He never met a stranger and his zest for life was infectious. He was full of optimism, a natural storyteller (he had some doozies).  He had a remarkable quick wit and was famous for his one line sayings, such as "falling apart like a nickel mop."  His fun and generous spirit will be missed by many.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Jewel and Robert Strickland and brother Bobby Strickland.

He is survived by his wife Christina “Tinker” Strickland; daughters Debbie Kennedy (Fred) of St. Petersburg, FL, Shelly Strickland of Ruskin, FL, and Tammy McKamey (Eric) of Aiken, SC; stepson David Woodall (Cheryl) of Fernandina Beach, FL, and stepdaughter Jill Elliott (John) of Land O Lakes, FL; thirteen grandchildren, Samantha, Natalie, Fredy, Patrick, Drew, Jr., Holly, Austin, Derek, Maddy, Robby, Brittany, Tyler and Claire; great-grandson Jayden; and brother Tommy Strickland (Linda) of Meridian, MS and sister Linda Lumpkin of New Port Richey, FL

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 pm, on Saturday, March 13, on the beach at Dolphin Cay in St. Petersburg. Tommy Bahama type casual attire.  A private Interment will be held at Bay Pines National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Trump 2024 reelection campaign, while his wife Tinker would prefer donations to the democratic party.