William Jeffrey Bland's Obituary
Capt. William Jeffrey “Jeff” Bland, 49, of Germantown, TN, died Tuesday, April 14th, 2009. A native of Jackson, MS, Jeff had called the Memphis/Germantown area home for the past 19 years. As a high school student at Jackson Prep High School he attained the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America & graduated from Prep in 1978. He continued his studies at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS. Throughout his college career he served in the Air National Guard 172nd Tactical Airlift Group. He was awarded his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from MSU in 1984. Upon graduation he entered Air Force Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas, where he graduated with honors. Jeff transferred to the Air Force Reserve in Charleston, SC, where he served from 1986 to 1988. His first position with a commercial airline carrier came in the late eighties when he was hired as a Flight Engineer with TWA based out of New York and St. Louis. He was called to active duty as an Aircraft Commander in 1990 for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm respectively. It was also during this duty that Jeff was retained by Federal Express where he rose to the rank of Captain on the MD-11. A communicant of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, a former Vestryman, and an avid fisherman and hunter, he also took pleasure in teaching children’s Christian education and attending the weekly Business Luncheons held at First Evangelical Church.Jeff leaves his wife Catherine Doan Bland and daughters Susannah Catherine and Sarah Elizabeth all of Germantown. His parents Col. (Ret.) Jacob Lenier & Edith Sanford Bland of Corinth, MS, a sister Beth Bland Bauer also of Corinth and a brother Arthur S. “Buddy” Bland of Knoxville. He was the grandson of the late Mr. & Mrs. James L. Bland and Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Sanford.Visitation will be held on Friday, April 17th at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Collierville, TN, at 11:00 a.m. Immediately following the visitation, a memorial Eucharist celebrating Jeff’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. at St. Andrew’s. Interment will follow services at Historic Elmwood Cemetery.The family asks that memorials be sent to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 106 Walnut Street, Collierville, TN 38017 -OR- World Vision Katito ADP Project, P.O. Box 70399, Tacoma, WA 98481-0399.
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