James Bland Jr.

James Vernard Bland, Jr., 84, of Chesterfield, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at the Hospice unit of McGuire V.A. Medical Center. He was the son of the late James Vernard Bland Sr. and Susie Whitley Bland, and was preceded in death by a son, John W. Bland, and two sisters, Lula Wade, and Anna Jordan. Mr. Bland was a U.S. Marine veteran having served during WWII and the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Ivey Memorial United Methodist Church, a life member of the D.A.V., and founded the Boy Scouts of America Troop #178 at Ivey Memorial UMC in 1959. Jim was a retired employee of Joseph W. Bliley Funeral Homes and a local musician for many years with several country, dance and gospel groups. He is survived by his wife, June Jefferson Bland; two sons, James V. Bland III and wife, Sue of Richmond, and Jeff A. Bland and wife, Cindy of Richmond; two daughters, Linda S. Staton and husband, E. Gordon of Chester, and Sharon B. Heiberg of Richmond; two grandsons; six granddaughters; one great-grandson, one sister Dorothy Pearce. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 11, 2009 in Ivey United Methodist Church, 17120 Jefferson Davis Highway, Colonial Heights with the Reverend Tommy Herndon officiating. Interment Sunset Memorial Park, Chester, with Military honors. The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard. If desired, contributions may be made to the Parkinson Research Foundation, P.O. Box 20256, Sarasota, Florida 34276 or Hospice of Central Virginia, 7231 Forest Avenue, Suite 100, Richmond, Virginia 23226. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.