Johnny Strain

John Mattox Strain, Sr. of Islamorada, FL,  formerly of Rome, GA, passed away on Thursday, December 3, 2015.

Mr. Strain was born in Hogansville, Georgia in January of 1948.  After graduating from Hogansville High School in 1966, Mr. Strain attended the University of Georgia, graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.  He went on to receive a law degree from University of Georgia School of Law in 1973.

Mr. Strain practiced law in Cedartown, Georgia for twenty years before moving to Rome in 1994 and establishing the law firm of Davidson and Strain.  After his partner, William Davidson, passed away, Mr. Strain operated as solo practitioner until 2009 when he was joined by Katherine Rutledge Silver in the firm of Strain and Rutledge.

Mr. Strain’s legal expertise was in the representation of injured workers in workers’ compensation claims.  He connected with his clients on a personal level, and his technical understanding of the law was matched only by the level of professionalism and ethics he exhibited in his practice.  Mr. Strain was AV Preeminent rated, a testament to the fact that his peers ranked him at the highest level of professional excellence.

Mr. Strain was a sought after speaker and expert on the topic of workers’ compensation, and he was able to transition his expertise into a role as mediator helping others to facilitate resolution in their workers’ compensation claims.

Mr. Strain is survived by his wife of 47 years Rebecca, son John Mattox Strain, Jr. of Islamorada, FL,  daughter Sara Midwood and her husband Andrew, grandsons Mattox and Weston, of Lake Oswego, OR, brothers Edward E. Strain and his wife Barbara of Cornelia, GA, Nathan Strain of Tullahoma, TN, and Clifford Strain of LaGrange, GA, along with a number of nieces and nephews.

Private interment services were held at sea on December 13, 2015 aboard the boat “Isabelle J”.   Additional memorial services with be held in the Prayer Garden at the First Presbyterian Church of Rome at a date yet to be determined.

Those friends wishing to honor Mr. Strain’s life and memory may do so by making memorial contributions to the First Presbyterian Church of Rome.