Narvell Strickland, 87, a resident of Ponchatoula, LA, passed away, Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Belle Maison Nursing Home in Hammond, LA. He was born January 1, 1929 in Tupelo, MS. He was the son of Ernest E. and Ruby Herring Strickland. He had a forty-year career with the Illinois Central Railroad where he started as a pipefitter apprentice in the car shop in McComb, MS and retired as the General Manager, Sales in NY, NY. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Roosevelt University in Chicago, a Master's Degree in History from Southeastern LA University and a Law Degree from Northwestern California University School of Law in Sacramento, California. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. Mr. Strickland was an avid reader and had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He wrote a thesis on the Cotton Mill Industry and later turned it into a book, "A History of Mississippi Cotton Mills and Mill Villages". He is preceded in death by his parents; one son, Brian Strickland; two brothers, Stanley and James Strickland and one sister, Inez Robinson. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jean Shaw Strickland of Ponchatoula, LA; two sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Michele Strickland of The Woodlands, TX and Larry and Debbie Strickland of Ocklawaha, FL; four grandchildren, Tyler and Myles Strickland of Fairfield, CT and Laura and Anna Strickland of The Woodlands, TX; one brother, Ernest Strickland, Jr. of Syracuse, IN; one sister, Helen Grigsby of Clovis, NM and numerous nieces and nephews. A private graveside services will be held Saturday, June 25, 2016 in Hollywood cemetery in McComb with Dr. David Millican officiating under the direction of Sharkey Funeral Home in Summit. Share condolences at catchingsfuneralhome.com