HAZLEHURST — Lela Faye Bland died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, at her home. She was 68.

Mrs. Bland was a cafeteria worker at Wesson Attendance Center. She was a member of New Providence Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jazy and Lessie Maher; her brother, Edgar Maher; and a husband, John Shirley Ahrend Jr.

Survivors include her husband, Ira Lee Bland Jr. of Hazlehurst; three sons, Michael Bland of Pearl, Jay Bland of Hazlehurst and Brand Bland of Winona; a daughter, Brenda Ahrend Cranfield; three brothers, Jazy L. “Red” Maher Jr. and Joe T. Maher, both of Hazlehurst, and Eddie Maher of Brookhaven; four sisters, Patricia G. Hatcher of Port Gibson, Mary J. Watts of Vidalia, Elaine Smith of Brookhaven and Joyce Cockrell of Vicksburg; and five grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at New Providence Baptist Church. Visitation will be tonight from 5 until 8 at the church. Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Community Funeral Service with assistance from Riverwood Family Funeral Service.