April 16, 1943 – Jan. 5, 2012

HAZLEHURST — Services for Lela Faye Bland, 68, of Hazlehurst, who died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, at her residence, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at New Providence Baptist Church.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Community Funeral Service assisted by Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the church.

Mrs. Bland was born April 16, 1943, in Jefferson County, the daughter of Jazy L. Maher Sr. and Lessie Twiner Maher. She was employed by Wesson Attendance Center as a cafeteria worker and was a member of New Providence Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Edgar Maher; husband, John Shirley Ahrend Jr.; and one brother-in-law, Jimmy Watts.

Survivors include her husband, Ira Lee Bland Jr.; three sons, Michael Bland of Pearl, Jay Bland and his special friend, Sabrina Davis, of Hazlehurst and Brad Bland and wife, Michelle, of Winona; one daughter, Brenda Ahrend Cranfield and husband, Tom; three brothers, Jazy L. “Red” Maher Jr. and wife, Mildred, and Joe T. Maher and wife, Vallie, all of Hazlehurst and Eddie Maher and wife, Penny, of Brookhaven; four sisters, Pat G. Hatcher and husband, Stacy, of Port Gibson, Mary J. Watts of Vidalia, Elaine Smith and husband, Lanny, of Brookhaven and Joyce Cockrell and husband, Harry, of Vicksburg; and five grandchildren, Matt Cranfield, Tyler Cranfield, Hannah Cranfield, Joseph Cranfield and Kayla Bland.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Providence Baptist Church in Hazlehurst.