Rayville’s own:
Jan Hales Strickland brings heart, heritage and design excellence to St. Jude Dream Homes
For nearly a decade, the St. Jude Dream Home in Monroe has carried a signature touch — a blend of relaxed elegance, thoughtful detail, and quiet sophistication that has become unmistakably the work of Jan Hales Strickland.
What thousands of visitors see each year is a beautifully designed home. What they may not see is the story behind the designer: a Rayville native whose talent, work ethic, and giving spirit have made her one of the most trusted creative forces behind one of the region’s most beloved charitable projects.
Strickland, born and raised in Rayville, grew up surrounded by the rural landscapes and close-knit community that continue to shape her design philosophy today.
“Design, to me, is always influenced by your surroundings,” she said. “The rural land here in North Louisiana has influenced my style to be relaxed elegance.”
Her love for interiors began early. As a child, her parents took her on travels across Europe, where she found herself captivated by the beauty of historic castles and grand interiors. That early spark grew into something more defined at age sixteen, when her parents allowed her to renovate their home’s attic and transform it into a movie room. “I knew then that I wanted to do design,” she said.
After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in Interior Design, Strickland built her early career in Birmingham and Montgomery, working in kitchen design and later in a fabric and antique store. When her husband, Josh, finished law school in 2015, the couple returned home to Rayville, a move that would eventually connect her to the work that has become her calling.
In 2018, while pregnant with their daughter Evy, Strickland received a call from Brian Allen of BRACO Construction asking if she would serve as lead designer for the Monroe St. Jude Dream Home.
“My answer was a quick yes,” she said. This year marks her ninth Dream Home.
For Strickland, the project is far more than a professional opportunity. It is deeply personal. Her childhood best friend, Tiffany Greer, was a St. Jude patient who passed away from childhood cancer.
“I think of her daily along with other friends whose lives were cut short due to childhood cancer,” she said. Designing the Dream Home each year is her way of honoring them — and helping ensure that other families receive the care Tiffany once did.
Each Dream Home begins with the national sponsors’ offerings — lighting, plumbing, flooring, tile — and from there, Strickland builds the home’s palette and personality. Lighting and plumbing fixtures have become her signature elements.
“These pieces are truly the jewelry of the home,” she said.
Balancing beauty, function, and broad appeal is part of the challenge, but it’s one she embraces.
“That’s the amazing thing about interiors. You can have it all if designed properly,” she said. “With the right materials and colors you can soften and refine spaces.”
The biggest challenge, she admits, is the timeline.
“The deadlines are always tricky with this home. And weather elements can get in the way of construction,” she said. “But I always say God has his hand on this project each year. Even if it’s tight every year, it all comes together beautifully.”
Behind the scenes, she says, is a world most visitors never see — volunteers, sponsors, and tradespeople donating time, talent, and materials to make the home possible.
“People work tirelessly to get it completed on time,” she said.
Last year, the project took on even deeper meaning. While designing the Dream Home, Strickland and her family suffered the heartbreaking loss of their daughter Hazel, who was stillborn. In the midst of grief, a message arrived from a St. Jude parent.
“She told me she was praying for me and thanked me for all I did on the home,” Strickland said. “It truly put it all in perspective. We are one big family working together for a great cause.”
Representing Rayville and Richland Parish on a national stage is something she carries with pride.
“I’m proud to be from a place that’s small but has such a big heart and is full of amazing people,” she said.
For young people in Rayville, especially those dreaming of creative careers, she hopes her journey sends a clear message: “I hope they know they can be anything they want to be. Don’t let the small town reduce you to small thinking. Think and dream big.”
With nine Dream Homes behind her and countless families touched by her work, Strickland continues to bring beauty, purpose, and compassion to every project she touches. Her designs may fill the rooms of the Dream Home, but it is her heart, shaped by family, faith, community and loss, that fills the home with meaning.
For those wanting to be part of the mission inspiring Jan’s work, tickets for the 2026 Monroe St. Jude Dream Home are available at www.dreamhome.org or by calling 800‑592‑1582.
Open house tours begin in mid‑May, offering the community a chance to walk through the home she has poured her heart into.
