Elizabeth "Betty" Griggs Strickland, 96, Bradenton, passed away November 15, 2016. She was born on July 29, 1920 in Baltimore, Maryland and moved to Bradenton at six weeks of age, where she was adopted by the late Robert Henry and Inez Isabelle (Wiley) Griggs who were the owners of Griggs Plumbing. She was a graduate of Bradenton High School Class of 1938, and the Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee. After her college graduation she returned to Bradenton to teach in Manatee County for several years at Manatee High School and then later at Samoset Elementary from which she retired. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association, the Bradenton Church of Christ on 53rd Avenue, and served as a volunteer with Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton and at Angel Medical Center in Franklin, N.C. where she resided part-time from 1960 until 2000. While living in Franklin she was a longtime member of the Carolines Singing Group. Betty was predeceased by her husband W.D. "Bill" Strickland in December of 1973. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Jo S. Strickland of Bradenton, grandchildren; Donna Jo Sweet of Lander, WY and Lewis Budbill of Atlanta, GA, cousin, Dorothy Thomas of Palmetto, and many extended family members and friends. The family will receive friends from 1:00 - 2:00 P.M. on Friday, November 18, 2016 at Shannon Funeral Home Town Chapel, 1015 14th Street West, Bradenton. A celebration of Betty's life will follow at 2:00 P.M. Interment will take place at Manasota Memorial Park. The family request that in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to the Humane Society of Manatee County, ATT: Valerie Bliss, 2515 14th Street W., Bradenton, Fl. 34205 in Betty's memory. Condolences for the family may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.