John Henry Bland, Sr.

John Henry Bland, Sr., son of the late Earline Bland, and the youngest of six  children, was born on September 4, 1954, in Coffeeville, Mississippi. John accepted Christ at an early age and joined Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Coffeeville under the leadership of Rev. William Jones. John loved to sing and joined the adult choir at Spring Hill. In later years he united with the Clear Creek M.B. Church in Oxford MS under the leadership of Rev. Eddie Goliday, Sr, where he was the high light of the day the day for many  there and served as a church greeter and  parking security attendant until his health declined.

He received his early education in the Coffeeville School District and was a graduate of Central High School 1973. He gained employment for many years as an assembly line worker with Holley Carburetor in Water Valley and later was employed with Whirlpool Corporation in Oxford.

John was blessed with two loving children from his previous marriage: John Jr., and Johnitta and  four wonderful grandchildren: Jamesha (Greg) Wilson, Zyon McCathern and Kim Parks, and Makiha Walker, and gained three more loving children, with his marriage to Dorothy Thompson Mathis: Gregory Tinner, Wenda Mathis and Tonya Mathis and five grandchildren: Robrecus (Aspric) Toles, A'Ventae Mathis, Josh Tinner, Daquosha Moody and DeChristian Cummings.

He was such a fun, caring guy, and loved by so many. You could often find him dedicated to parking the cars during services at Clear Creek, always wearing a big smile and was a care giver to others. He loved fishing, joking around and he loved his Chevy Truck. 

On Thursday, May 28, 2020, in his home, John went peacefully to sleep. He will truly be missed by his loving wife, Dorothy Mathis Bland of Oxford MS; his children: John Henry Bland, Jr., of Coffeeville MS, Johnitta Bland-Walker (Earnest) of Nashville TN: step daughter:  Wenda Mathis of Dallas TX; his siblings: Milton (Ora) Bland of Detroit MI, Katherine (James) Smith and Mary Newby both of Coffeeville MS; his grand grandchildren, great grandchildren Gabrielle, Janelle, A'Ventae Jr., Kaeden, Raya, Avery, Ra'Mya, Rob, Jr., Kwame, Brianna and Elijah; Mother-in-law: Mattie Bell Thompson of Oxford MS; five special friends the family considered as daughters: Rachel Wadlington, Jennifer Rockette, Alicia Coleman, Serena Cathey, and Demetrica Pegues; a brother in law: Ned Booker of Memphis TN; three nieces: Narvel Louise Booker-Ware, Wanda Bland and Debora Kimble (his sidekick, Shabba); five nephews: Robert (Yvette) Booker, Wayne (Gwen) Booker, Larry (Karen) Booker, Ronald (Rachel) Booker, David (Ava) Kimble and step daughter-in-law: Regina Tinner. John also leaves to cherish his memories, all of his family, special cousins and friends far and near.

John was preceded in death by his mother: Earline Bland, step children: Gregory Tinner and Tanya Mathis; and sisters: Eva Bland, Darlene Kimble and Bobbie Jean Booker and nephew: Ned Booker, Jr. Please keep the Bland family in your prayers.