Gerald Henry Bland

GERALD HENRY BLAND, (JERRY), was born on June 26,1923 to the late Allen and Lucy Lee Bland. He peacefully departed this life after a lengthy illness at the Veterans Nursing Home in Fayetteville, NC on Thursday, August 5, 2010. He was educated in the pubic school of Newark, NJ and graduated from South Side H.S., now named Malcolm X. Shabazz in 1930. After leaving high school he served in the U.S. Army during World War 11 and the Korean War. As a Staff Sergeant his main duties were map drawing and land surveying. He worked for the U.S. Post Office and the Essex County NJ Sheriff’s Department. Gerald moved to Baltimore, MD in 1968, In 1992 Gerald retired from the District Court of MD Sheriff’s Constables office. He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in 1977 and became a member of Trinity Apostolic Faith Holiness Church, which is now know as Trinity New-Birth International Christian Ministries, Inc. Baltimore, MD. He has remained a member of Trinity and has never jointed another church. Gerald sag on the Senior Choir, the Men’s Choir and the Sanctuary Choir until illness forced him to relinquish his duties. In 2000 Gerald and his wife Ava moved too Durham, NC. In 2004 he entered the NC State Veterans Nursing Home in Fayetteville, NC until his death Jerry, (in his own words) is survived by Ava his wife of 31 years, his constant confidante, soul mate, companion and love of his life. Son, Gerald Douglas, I love you son. Thank you for loving me in return. Daughter, Tara, you have brought great joy to me and your mother and I love you. To my son and daughter I count it a great blessing to carry this memory with me, you will understand more one day. To my family I truly love each and every one of you. Jerry truly loved his spiritual family, “Trinity” and often spoke of the many fond memories of attending services. Several members stayed in contact with him while in North Carolina. He is also survived by: his wife, Ave; son, Gerald Douglas (Carmen); daughter, Tara; five grandsons, Manuel Rodriguez (Neva), Gerald Dougals II, Denzel, Kyrin and Kolin Gipson; two nieces, Karen Jackson and Rhonda Carter; three nephews, Allen Bland, Richard Bland and Christopher Bland; and a host of family, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by brothers Allen LL. Bland, Sr., Richard L. Bland, Sr. and Elmer Henry.

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Gerald Henry Bland

June 26, 1923 - August 5, 2010