Aug. 22, 1942 – Aug. 19, 2013

HAZLEHURST — Services for Ira Lee Bland Jr., 70, of Hazlehurst, who died Monday, Aug. 19, 2013, at Baptist Medical Center, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at New Providence Baptist Church.

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

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from noon until service time Friday, both at the church.

Mr. Bland was born Aug. 22, 1942, in Mississippi, the son of Ira Lee Bland Sr. and Virgie Mae Freeman Bland.

Mr. Bland attended Wesson High School and worked at National Plastics in Port Gibson and retired from Offshore Drilling.

He was a member of New Providence Baptist Church.

Mr. Bland also served his country in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army National Guard.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lela Faye Maher Bland; his parents; one brother, Everett Bland; three sisters-in-law, Joan Bland, Fritzie Bland and Brenda Bland; and one brother-in-law, Hasker Davis.

Survivors include three sons, Michael Bland, Jay Bland and wife, Sabrina, and Brad Bland and wife, Michelle; one daughter, Brenda Ahrend Cranfield and husband, Tom; five brothers, Benny Bland and wife, Betty, Ruben Bland, Henry Bland and wife, Elaine, Leon Bland and Frank Bland; two sisters, Virgie Bland Davis and Betty Ruth Bland Higgs and husband, Bobby; and six grandchildren, Matthew Cranfield and wife, Shelby Wells Cranfield, Tyler Cranfield, Hannah Cranfield, Joseph Cranfield and Kayla Bland.

Online condolences may be sent to www.riverwoodfamily.com.