Thelma T. Bland

MOTHER THELMA T. MATTHEWS-BLAN D is a native of Pamlico County, NC born to the parents of Council Matthews and Justina Willis Matthews on January 11, 1914, and departed this life on January 7, 2012. Mother was one of eight children and has made history as being among one of the fastest-growing segments of the population of groups 80 and over now representing 10% of the older population and will more than triple from 5.7 million to over 19 million by the Year 2050 (97 years, 4 days from 98 years of life). During the year of 1914, historically President Woodrow Wilson (D) was President and Thomas R. Marshal (D) was Vice President. Postage stamps were only .02 cents, bread (1 pound loaf) .06 cents, milk (quart) .09 cents and a house only cost $4,615.00 (a percentage of what real estate taxes are today. However, as a child, Mother was not concerned about the prices of food, milk or houses. Mother loved being closely knit with her sisters and brothers and Mom and Dad. Mother attended the Pamlico County Public Schools and was a very good attentive student. Once Mother shared memories of her 4th grade elementary school days (2011) and of course other days prior to (2011) and recalled her principal’s name and his two sons. It was very funny because she was saying how the other students would question the two sons about some of the board work. Since these two boys were the principal’s sons the students just knew that they had the answers, however, they did not. The 4th grade class was in a 4 room building divided in to 3 grade levels. Elementary, Junior and High School. It was awesome to listen to Mother explain such vivid account of her 4th grade, at the age of 97 and to recall the location of the school, what the school looked like, the students names, and the principal and name of the school itself, dating back to the year 1919. Mother was of sound mind and body. Mother, was a very good reader, mathematician, and speller during her grade school and high school years. It was not all academics that inspired the generation of people at that time, but they were hard workers, and determined to be successful in whatever they pursued. Mother’s father, Council Matthews held the professional title as “carpenter” and “photographer”. Council Matthews made “coffins” yes, right outside his home in Pamlico. The family lived near the river, they raised their own food, and of course Council Matthews could build any home that he sought after building. Mother, her sisters and brothers honored their father and their mother, as the scripture says (Exodus 20:12), and Mother was blessed to have lived a long life as the scripture has said. Unfortunately, Mother’s parents Council Matthews and Justina Willis Matthews died of young ages, and Mother and her siblings were raised by their Aunts and Uncles, all God-fearing people. Mother specifically by her Aunt Prudie Thompson of Oriental (& Pamlico County) North Carolina. Being taught of her father and mother’s and aunt’s principles of strictness of child raising, Mother instilled in her own, these same principles. Pamlico County remains rural in character and flavor, although the last decade has brought a good deal of residential development, largely the result of northern retirees and investors attracted to the many miles of waterfront property. The county is anchored on the east by the Town of Oriental, a popular waystation for boaters traveling the Intracoastal Waterway, the unincorporated community of Olympia on the west and unincorporated Lowland on the east. New Bern, across the county line in Upper Broad Creek, Craven County to the west. While traveling back and forth between county lines, during her courtship years, Mother met a young handsome man by the name of Jesse D. Bland and they married in the year of 1932. During those years, understand that the distance is more than 15 miles apart, and courtship at that time was conducted by foot. Yes, you walked to court your bride to be. From their union of marriage, they were blessed with 13 children. This Craven County was located in a small township called Vanceboro, NC (Upper Broad Creek). As a young couple, Mother and Dad resided in Farmville, North Carolina, and later moved to Vanceboro, North Carolina and traveled as a young couple throughout the various townships of North Carolina, beginning their life together as a family in the natural and in the spiritual whelm of God. Mother loved her in-laws dearly, the late Johnny T. Bland & Bettie Elizabeth Pugh-Bland, and the Bland family and extended members of the family and took on another family, not only with Mother, but with Mother’s sisters and brothers as well; look at it as another close family member being born into the family and this was true love. These are members that gave her the opportunity to work, grow and learn while a young married woman. This growth of learning extended from the Matthews, the Thompsons, the Blands, the Oliver’s, the Will Dos, the Gilliam’s, and various other family members that lived in the surrounding townships, worked, nurtured, groomed, taught, expired and gave Mother wisdom and understanding of how to be a helpmate to her husband, how to raise her children, how to live a religious life, that guided her through these years to be successful in life. The bible says “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18, and as a young wife and continuing as an older wife Mother was blessed in being married to Jesse D. Bland for nearly 60 years. The Employment Experience: From Vanceboro, NC, Mother and Dad moved the family to Durham, North Carolina during Mother’s employment years in the State of North Carolina. Mother acquired employment at various historical sites in NC Yes, Mother worked and was employed for short spans with a few of the same historic companies along with her husband. These companies were: Durham Hosiery Mill, in the Edgemont Community of Durham, NC, and Leggett & Myers. As a homeworker, Mother made her children’s clothes. Professional name: streamstress. The Religious Experience: Mother’s Christian education originated in Pamlico County, then to Craven County, to Farmville, North Carolina, and various surrounding cities in the NC However, Durham, NC was the last city prior to coming to Baltimore, Maryland. Mother’s membership in “When We All Get To Heaven” … Transformation Church of Jesus Christ, Apostolic Choir the North Carolina Durham area started with the United Holiness Church of America. The UHCOA, as many Pentecostal churches is now and was then an outgrowth of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, when the 120 disciples were gathered together in a room in Jerusalem as they had been instructed by Christ and proclaimed His Gospel was given at that time. UHCOA is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Church was born and Jesus Christ, Himself, being the Chief Cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20). During Mother’s Christian educating and history, she met a young woman preacher standing on the corner of Peachtree Street, selling fish sandwiches. This young woman invited Mother to her church, the Church of God In Christ Jesus, New Deal, Inc. Chief Apostle Bishop C. L. Faison and the wife of Bishop C. L. Faison, Mother I. B. Faison in a section that was called “Old Mount Vernon”. Mother did accept the invitation and visited the church. On the evening that Mother visited the Church of God In Christ Jesus, New Deal, Inc. she witnessed a program while in session called “The Devil’s Head Program” and was inspired to return and bring her husband with her to the service. Dad at that time was a young minister who traveled as an evangelist in the Baptist Movement, (pastoring 3 churches). Even though Mother and Dad would travel back and forth to Vanceboro, and various townships in NC. Mother and Dad decided to change their membership to the Church of God In Christ Jesus, New Deal, Inc, under the Chief Apostle of the late Bishop C. L. Faison, and Mother I. B. Faison, Durham, North Carolina. Remember, wherever Mother and Dad traveled, they traveled together with their children. In the early 1950’s the family moved to Baltimore, Maryland and Mother took employment with Johns Hopkins Hospital, and later trained for Private Duty Nursing. Mother also volunteered at University Hospital. How did Mother find time to be a part of the employment world, a mother, and Woman of God? Well, Mother was determined to achieve something out of life and therefore devoted & consecrated her mind, soul and body to the cause; and then committed to be dedicated and wholly committed to a personal goal and completion. Here the family continued with the Church of God In Christ, New Deal #1, Inc. and was assigned to work with the Church of God In Christ, New Deal #1, Inc. serving with Bishop C. H. McBride and Mother Lillian McBride. Both Mother and Dad served faithfully becoming a member of Senior Gospel Choir, Missionary, Sunday School Teacher, (Dad- Drummer and Symbols Player) anyone remember the Symbols? Dad could really play them. In 1963, a mission was opened at 1920 Edmondson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland under the Pastorship of Bishop J. D. Bland and Mother Thelma T. Matthews-Bland, which was named the Church of God In Christ, New Deal, Inc. #2. Mother served as Assistant Pastor, Mother of the Church, Sunday School Teacher, Member of the Senior Choir, Served on the Deacon Board, and other auxiliaries rendering the work of our Lord Jesus Christ In 1965 Bishop J.D. Bland developed a sickness, which concluded a decision to incorporating #2 church location into a sister church of the Church of God in Christ, New Deal, Inc. Bishop J. D. Bland continued evangelistic ministry fellowship with other churches throughout Maryland and North Eastern Districts. The same year Mother became a member of the First United Church Of God In Christ Apostolic and was inspired by her aunt Mrs. Margaret Bland to visit the church, and then later became inspired with the ministry to transfer membership. Mother transferred membership to the First United Church of Jesus Christ, Apostolic, 3400 Copley Road, under the leadership of Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Sr. in 1965 witnessing the first Annual Convocation. Mother inspired Bishop J. D. Bland to also transfer membership into the First United Church of Jesus Christ, Apostolic a few years later. 1993 membership at the same location, 5150 Baltimore National Pike, Pastor, Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Jr. now Transformation Church of Jesus Christ, Apostolic, and Presiding Bishop of the United Church of Jesus Christ, Apostolic. Mother Thelma T. Matthews-Bland during her membership of the churches have served in the following auxiliaries and capacities dating back to 1965: Evangelist, Dorcas Guild, the Willing Aide, Missionary Department, Kitchen Committee, Widows & Support Group, Teacher of the Sunday School Department, Sponsored & Supported A Child in Ghana, the Foreign Mission and other various capacities as the Lord though God called. The two Mother Thelma T. Matthews-Bland and Bishop J. D. Bland always worked together in the ministry and evangelistic services rendering the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mother Thelma T. Matthews-Bland was preceded in death by the late Bishop J. D. Bland, a son Harold T. Bland, 7 siblings (brothers and sisters), 5 (grandchildren) 3 (great-grandchildren), daughterslaw, sons-in-law and many other relatives. Surviving Mother Thelma T. Matthews-Bland are: one sister, (Mrs.) Ethel Matthews-Walker of Dorchester, Massachusetts; five sons, Ellis David, Freddie D., Theodore R., James T. and Johnny T.; seven daughters, Helen Marie, Vivian, Doris, Evelyn, Ometha, Deborah and Janice D.; grandchildren (49); great-grandchildren (80); great-great-grandchildren (23 grandchildren); additional great-greatgrandchildren expected year 2012, daughters-in-law (5), sons-in-law (3); a host of nieces, nephews; a host of great-nieces and -nephews; a host of great-great-nieces and -nephews; a host of cousins, other relatives and friends. Family expectancy in the year of 2012 and years to come as part of the marriage union of Bishop J. D. Bland and Mother Thelma T. Matthews-Bland continues after their life and generations to come. This short historical obituary of Mother captures highlighted subjects, however, the life and history of Mother Thelma T. Matthews-Bland covering over 10 decades plus of history. The history must be written in the books that will capture a full documented historical account of her life with Bishop J.D.

Tributes

Thelma T. Bland

January 11, 1914 - January 7, 2012