Funeral services for Lela Faye Bland, ofHazlehurst, are 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, at New ProvidenceBaptist Church in Hazlehurst, with burial in the church cemetery.Community Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

    Visitation is Friday from 5 until 8 p.m. at the church.

    Mrs. Bland, 68, died Jan. 5, 2012, at her home. She was born inJefferson County on April 16, 1943, to Jazy L. Maher Sr. and LessieTwiner Maher.

    She was a cafeteria worker at Wesson Attendance Center and a memberof New Providence Baptist Church.

    Preceding her in death were her parents; brother, Edgar Maher;husband, John Shirley Ahrend Jr.; and brother-in-law, JimmyWatts.

    Survivors are her husband, Ira Lee Bland Jr.; sons, Michael Bland,of Pearl, Jay Bland and special friend, Sabrina Davis, ofHazlehurst, and Brad Bland and wife, Michelle of Winona; daughter,Brenda Ahrend Cranfield and husband, Tom; brothers, Jazy L. “Red”Maher Jr. and wife, Mildred, of Hazlehurst, Joe T. Maher and wife,Vallie, of Hazlehurst, and Eddie Maher and wife, Penny, ofBrookhaven; sisters, Pat G. Hatcher and husband, Stacy, of PortGibson, Mary J. Watts, of Vidalia, La., Elaine Smith and husband,Lanny, of Brookhaven, and Joyce Cockrell and husband, Harry, ofVicksburg; five grandchildren, Matt Cranfield, Tyler Cranfield,Hannah Cranfield, Joseph Cranfield and Kayla Bland; and a host ofnieces and nephews.

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