Sammie Charles Bland

Sammie Charles Bland was called home the morning of July 18, 2022 in Rockwall, Texas after a battle with cancer. Sammie was born on March 31, 1937 to Charlie and Lou Ellen Bland in Belton, Texas. He was the eldest of five children. Sammie was proceeded in death by Joyce Hazel Bland wife of 51 years; Ann Chandler-Bland wife of 7 years; daughter Leslie Jo Bland; parents Charles and Lou Ellen Bland; brother Russell and Rebecca Bland; brother Earl Bland; sister-in-law Hellen and Ted Gilbert; sister-in-law Nelda and Don Dearing; and father and mother-in-law Carl and Lucille Bowman.

Sammie is survived by Stanley Bland and wife Glenda of Forney, Texas; son Mark Bland and wife Vivian of Abilene, Texas; daughter Dana Curry and husband Richard of Forney, Texas; sister Nona Sluder of Gainesville, Texas; sister June Irvin of Kingsland, Texas; brother-in-law and wife, Buddy and Carolyn Bowman of Graham, Texas; and sister-in-law Judy Bland of Mineral Well, Texas. He is also survived by grandchildren Jennifer Phillips and husband Kyle of Porter, Texas; Jefferey Bland and wife Savannah of Forney, Texas; Kiel Bland and wife Kaytie of Forney, Texas; Kaydee Bland of Burleson, Texas; Katelyn Neill and husband Josh of Abilene, Texas; and Grayson Curry and Bailey Hamsher of Dallas, Texas; as well as eleven great grandchildren and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Sammie received his Certification of Ordination as a deacon in July of 1965 from the Rollingwood Hills Baptist Church in Mesquite prior to moving his family to Forney in 1968 where he was a respected, long-standing member and deacon of First Baptist Church Forney. He loved serving the Lord, teaching his Sunday School class, and pointing people to the hope of Jesus Christ. He started his construction career at 19 years old and, even after retirement, always lent a helping hand and words of wisdom. He loved to hunt, fish, and work the land but his favorite past time was golf. Sammie loved his family. He was very proud and active in his grandchildren’s lives and loved bragging about his great grandchildren. To him, they could do no wrong.

His legacy is a Godly example of a husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, friend, and Child of God we all strive to be. He humbly reflected God’s character in everything he did.

To know Sammie is to love Sammie – he will be greatly missed by his family, church, and community.