Carolyn Stricklin
Carolyn West Stricklin, 87, of Troy passed away peacefully at home on Friday, July 24, 2026.
Carolyn was born in Louisville, MS, to Charles C. and Louise W. West in July 1939. Because her father was a church planter, Carolyn lived her childhood in several southeastern states where Reverend West planted and pastored churches. She moved to Union City, TN, in the mid-1950s, where she met and married native Obion Countian William (Bill) Joseph Stricklin. Together they had four children.
Carolyn graduated with a Bachelor Science in Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin and completed her Master’s degree at Tusculum University in Greeneville, TN. She was employed for several years as a paralegal before accepting a position as Deputy Clerk for the Federal Court system. Carolyn eventually served as Financial Administrator of the Second District of Tennessee before retiring.
Throughout her life, Carolyn was active in multiple historical societies, community choirs and service organizations, in which she held leadership positions at the local, state and national levels. She was a voracious reader who particularly enjoyed reading history, biographies and books of theology. Carolyn also loved music and was a talented pianist and vocalist.
Carolyn’s deepest devotion, however, was to the God she loved and to his church. Carolyn was a devout, lifelong student of the Bible. She derived her greatest enjoyment and satisfaction from studying Scripture with other women and was instrumental in establishing Bible studies in many of the churches she attended over the years.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Charles C. and Louise W. West; and by her younger sister, Martha West Boyer. She is survived by her brother, Charles William (Bill) West and wife, Charlotte, (Vashon, WA); daughter, Alix Stricklin (Lebanon, TN); son, David Stricklin and wife, Tracy (Smyrna, TN); daughter, Camille Kendall (Troy, TN); daughter, Suzanne Walther and husband, Leonard (Bowling Green, KY); 15 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service honoring Carolyn’s life will be held Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church, 123 Main St. in Troy.
The Messenger