Jacque Strickland McCall

Jacque Strickland McCall peacefully passed away Sunday, June 29, 2014, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her three children, Terry McCall (Jody) of Oak Island, Cathy McCall of Fayetteville, and Ellen McCall (Ray Blackwell) of Fayetteville; her brother, Joe Strickland (Betty) of Fayetteville; two grandchildren, Jamie McCall of Chapel Hill and Shaun Jernigan, currently on teaching assignment in Ilsun, South Korea; her best friend, Jackie Van Meter of Springfield, Missouri; and 53 nieces and nephews. Jacque was born on July 4, 1932, the second youngest of 11 children, to Mittie and Purdie Strickland of Bethany. Smart, beautiful, talented, and athletic, she was a “by ear” musician on piano, guitar and accordion. Her singing was like a songbird. Basketball was a lifetime love of hers. She was leading scorer in the county her senior year at Stedman High School in 1951, playing three months pregnant no less, as she and our father, Malcolm McCall, had married the previous July 4, 1950. She was a huge Carolina basketball fan and loved her Tar Heels passionately. There was no better cook in Cumberland County, and no one matched her chicken and pastry. In fact, she was one of the few who still “rolled her own” from scratch. Every Christmas her friends, relatives, and children joyously anticipated her famous tins of home baked goodies. After 30 years of marriage, Mom left the countryside, moved into Fayetteville, and created a new life for herself. She took up ballroom dancing and for the next 34 years she waltzed, fox trotted, and sashayed to the rumba and swing. Along the way, she and her dance partner, Bill West, taught shag at Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), and were members of the Fayetteville Area Shag Association (FASA). Her story came full circle on Saturday night at Highland Country Club where she was to receive Bill’s induction into the FASA Hall of Fame. Jacque was a guest of honor, the Belle of the Ball, laughing, dancing, and talking with old friends. Seated beside her daughter Cathy, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her left temple and immediately collapsed. She never regained consciousness, but was in no pain after those initial 3-4 seconds. A special thanks to the Cape Fear Ballroom Dance Association, the Fayetteville Area Shag Association, the senior citizens aerobics class on Purdue Drive, her close friends in Bethany, Stedman and Fayetteville, and lastly her contemporaries at Magnolia Baptist Church in Bethany/Stedman. Along with her family, you were all “her people” and she loved each of you dearly. Though we are stunned and heartbroken with her unexpected departure, we are grateful that she scripted her exit and literally went out with her dancing shoes on. Someone at the country club said that she had decided to deliver the award to Bill personally. Now they are dancing with the angels. Please join us at Rogers and Breece Funeral Home on Thursday, July 3rd, 2014, at 3 p.m. to honor our mother, with visitation beginning at 1 p.m. Private cremains burial will take place at a future date.

Jacque Strickland McCall

July 4, 1932 - June 29, 2014