Minnie Bland  

Published 12:00 am Sunday, October 16, 2016

NATCHEZ — Minnie Bland, 95, a longtime resident of Natchez, died peacefully Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, at Glenburney Nursing Home.

A private graveside service has been arranged with the Rev. Richard Root of McComb officiating. Rev. Root is the former pastor of the Church of Christ in Natchez which Minnie faithfully attended.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. All who knew Minnie and her family are invited.

Arrangements are under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Mrs. Bland was born Feb. 13, 1921, in Humphrey, Ark., and given the name, Minnie Marie Hewitt. She and her twin sister were the youngest of 11 children. Her parents, the Hewitts, came from a long line of farmers in the Humphrey area. Minnie’s mother, Marie Brantley Hewitt , died soon after child birth. Mrs. Hewitt’s sister, Lassie Brantley, adopted Minnie.

Minnie was married to James M. Garrard in 1941 until his death in 1968. The Garrard family moved to Natchez in 1960 and Minnie later married Claude J. Bland, a Natchez resident, in 1970 and until his death in 1996.

Minnie was, above all, always a loving wife and mother throughout the changes in her long life. She loved Natchez and participated in a number of civic and church activities through the years. She was devoted to her church and loved Christ. She had many friends in Natchez.

She was very close to her children and grandson, stepson, step-grandchildren and their children. They were truly the love of her life.

Survivors include one daughter, Linda Garrard of Mount Charleston, Nev.; one son, Timothy Garrard and one grandson, Avery Garrard of Honolulu, Hawaii; one stepson, Daniel Bland of Natchez; one step-grandson, Trabue Bland of Pelham, N.Y.; one step-granddaughter, Anna Monsour of Houston; and a number of step-great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Glenburney Nursing Home and to Compassus Hospice for their extraordinary care, and to Minnie’s wonderful and devoted private caregivers and friends who loved Minnie very much, Sandra Bruce and Mary Ann Nichols.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.