Mary Strickland "Jeanie" Dupree

Wife of Jodie Dupree, NC Market Director and Licensed Funeral Director at SCI

Mary Jean “Jeanie” Strickland Dupree, 54, of Clayton, NC, passed away peacefullyon July 24, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Born August 15, 1970, in Chapel Hill, NC, Jeanie was raised in Garner, NC in a deeply loving Christian home by her parents, Sam and Sylvia Strickland. Affectionately known by all as “Jeanie,” she grew up surrounded by loving brothers and sisters.

She was a proud 1988 graduate of Garner High School and went on to graduate from Wake Technical Community College in 1990.

Jeanie built a career defined by excellence, organization, and care for others. She worked for many years in administrative roles at SAS Institute in Cary, supporting both the Human Resources and Research and Development departments. After stepping away to raise her children, Jeanie returned to the workforce as a beloved long-term substitute teacher at West Clayton Elementary, where her children attended school. Nearly nine years ago, she joined her husband and daughter in the funeral profession, serving as the group administrator for the Raleigh locations of Mitchell, Apex, and Brown-Wynne Funeral Homes. Her passion for administrative work and natural gift for organization were unmatched—Jeanie had a file for everything, labeled anything that would sit still and could plan an event down to the smallest detail.

A woman of unwavering faith, Jeanie was a lifelong member of Garner Church of God and later Benson Church of God, where she taught children’s church and served faithfully in ministries including as secretary for the Ladies Ministry.

Jeanie married her high school sweetheart, Jodie Dupree, and for nearly 35 years she exemplified what it meant to be a loving wife and mother. Most recently, she embraced her greatest joy—becoming “Gigi” to her beloved grandson, Will.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Jodie Dupree, daughter Haley Jean Dupree Uzzle and husband Dal; twin sons Clay and Hunter; precious grandson Will Uzzle. mother Sylvia Strickland; sisters Donna Dean (Mark) and Linda Barbour (Donnie); brothers Sam Strickland Jr. (Margaret), Jammie Strickland (Christina), and Daniel Strickland (Laura); and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins who loved her dearly.

Jeanie was preceded in death by her father, Sam Strickland Sr., who passed away just three months prior.

She was known for her deep love for her family, her gift for growing orchids and gardening as well as her love of baking and cooking -though she’d rarely pass up an opportunity to go out to eat Mexican food or Chicken with Garlic Sauce from her favorite Chinese restaurant.

Jeanie lived with strength and grace through a long battle with cancer. Though diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer 12 years ago, she refused to let the disease define her—and it never did. Most people never even knew she was undergoing continuous treatment. Her family extends deep gratitude to Dr. Russell Anderson and the nurses and staff at Johnston Hematology/Oncology for their outstanding care and compassion. Jeanie would tell anyone she could that God and God alone had kept her going for 12 years of cancer, giving her time to raise and educate her children. She leaves behind a legacy of fierceness, faithfulness, strength, joy, beauty and love to endure for all who knew and loved her.

Funeral services will be held at McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton, NC Visitation Sunday night, July 27 th from 7-9pm.

Funeral Service Monday, July 28 th at 11:00 with burial to follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park next to the funeral home.