Medical resident taken by cancer

Katherine Bray-Strickland

GREENVILLE, N.C.  —   An East Carolina University family medicine resident has succumbed to her four-and-one-half-year battle with cancer. Dr. Katherine Bray-Strickland died Wednesday. She was 27.

She was diagnosed with maxillary osteosarcoma, a cancer of the jaw, in 2005 and had two recurrences.

Bray-Strickland and fellow medical resident Dr. Anna Hudson, who is also battling cancer, benefited from the generosity of their peers during a silent auction held in December, which raised $3,800 from ECU and Pitt County Memorial Hospital employees and friends, toward the women’s medical expenses.

Bray-Strickland graduated from the Brody School of Medicine in May.

In a message to family and friends, her parents, sister and husband wrote: “Kati’s fighting spirit and courage throughout this time has inspired us all. Her big heart and sense of humor has created a huge ripple effect, and we are truly blessed by the outpouring of support and love we have already received from so many of you.”

Visitation will be Saturday, Feb. 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Greenville Hilton. A celebration of her life and story sharing will follow at 8 p.m.

A graveside memorial service is planned for 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Pinewood Cemetery in Greenville.

Bray is survived by her husband, David, and parents Paul and Dr. Emily Bray, a faculty member at Brody.

At her request, in lieu of flowers, gifts in Bray-Strickland’s memory may be given to the Family Medicine Center Building Fund at ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation, 525 Moye Blvd., Greenville, N.C. 27834.