Charles B. Bland, 88, of 5525 Godwin Blvd., Suffolk, Va., died Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, at Sentara Obici Hospital. He was a native of Nansemond County and the son of the late Thomas Bland and Christina Jackson Bland. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mae Alice Copeland Bland; his son, Reginald Bland; and daughter, Vernice Bland.

He retired from Lone Star LaFarge Inc. in Chesapeake, Va. He was a member of Friendship Church of God In Christ, where he served as an usher. He was a member of the King’s Men Male Community Chorus, Oakland Community Water System, past member of Prince Hall Masonic Lodge in Chuckatuck, Oakland-Chuckatuck Civic League.

He leaves to cherish his memory six daughters, Annette Coleman (John), of Philadelphia, Pa., Katherine D. Bland Ruffin (Randy), of Wakefield, Va., Betty J. Bland (Virnest), of Chesapeake, Va., Shirley A. Bland Simmons, Dorothy Bland Gamble, both of Suffolk, Alice Bland Benn (Keith), of Landenberg, Pa.; two sons, Melvin Lee Bland, of Tampa, Fla., and Charles Bland Jr., of Portsmouth, Va.; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Freda Bland, of Smithfield, Va.; other relatives and friends.

Special thanks is given to Virginia Parrish, Marie Porter, Nurse Susan Brobjorg of Sentara Home Health, Suffolk, Opal McCleod, Dorothy ”Buddy-Buddy” Jones and David and Mary Harris for the loving care they provided during Charles Bland’s lengthy illness.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, at Friendship Church of God In Christ officiated by Dr. Joseph Chase. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery. A celebration dinner will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church, 3488 Godwin Blvd. Crocker Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.crockerfuneralhome.com.