Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
The Autauga County Commission, members of the Prattville City Council and the Prattville community continue to mourn the loss of Prattville City Councilman Albert Striplin.
Striplin was elected to the Prattville City Council in 2011 and was serving his third term in office. Striplin graduated from Prattville High School and earned a bachelor’s in finance at Alabama University at Tuscaloosa and LSU School of Banking.
While Striplin was serving on the city council, he was previously employed with the Bank of Prattville for over 35 years as Director and President, and President of Key Finance Co., Inc. for 30 years, before its closing in 2015.
The Autauga County Commission read a resolution in honor of Striplin’s years of dedicated service to the Prattville and Autauga County Community.
“We note the death of Prattville City Councilman and Autauga County staple Albert Striplin with great sadness and regret as his immeasurable life is to be commended and celebrated,” Autauga County treasurer and administrator Scott Kramer said.
Striplin was an active member of First Methodist Church, where he served in the choir and as a pianist for the Fellowship Sunday School Class. He was also an active serving member of Eagle Scout Troop #25, and a Master Gardener with over 8,000 volunteer hours.
He also served with the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee, Autauga Area Community Foundation, Central Alabama Community Foundation, Leadership Autauga County, Leadership Alabama, Prattville Kiwanis Club, Prattville YMCA, and Historic Prattville Redevelopment Authority.
At the Prattville City Council meeting, the meeting was started with a long moment of silence for Striplin with an invocation given by councilman Robert Strichik. In Strichik’s prayer, he asked for strength and comfort to Striplin’s family and friends and also thanked Striplin for always picking up the phone and offering guidance and suggestions while they served on city council together.
Councilman Marcus Jackson also noted the deep and immeasurable loss to the council community. He stated that Tuesday’s meeting was a difficult one for him, without his friend and confidant beside him to his right.
“He was the most honest man that I know. He was full of character and integrity and was also the most humble and smartest man that I knew. I’ve learned so much from that man.” Jackson said.
Jackson stated throughout Striplin’s illness, he would go sit with him multiple times a week. Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie and multiple members of the community during the public comment portions of the meeting noted the loss of Striplin and wished his family and friends strength.
“We’re going to miss him greatly, and he’s a tremendous loss for our community. When I hear people talk about their faith, he was not one I ever heard talk about his faith because I saw it. He lived it. He never said, ‘Hey, I’m a Christian, hey, let me pray, let me do x -y or z and come to my church.’ He just walked it. I think he’s a shining example of how we should be,” Jackson said.
