Submitted by Mary Grunewald Strickland

Opal Lee Strickland Hayes

Graveside services for Opal Lee Strickland Hayes were held Tuesday, March 20, 
2001, at Centuries Memorial Park in Shreveport, Louisiana. Mrs. Hayes died 
Monday, March 19 in Houston, Texas, were she had made her home for the past 
two years. She was born September 2, 1914, in Pittsburg, Texas to James 
Henry Strickland and Arkie Jane Burleson and grew up in Cass County, Texas. 
In 1938, she married Ventress Mathews Hayes. Mrs. Hayes is survived by two 
brothers, James Harold and Dewey Waylon Strickland, both of Texas , one 
niece, four nephews and several great nieces and great nephews and a host of 
Hayes, Strickland and Burleson family members.

Opal loved traveling and meeting all of the Burleson family members. She 
inspired me to carry the family torch and research the family history. 
Without her many of our family stories would have been lost. I owe her a 
debt of gratitude and love.