Born in Chesapeake, Virginia on April 5, 1930, Charlene "Chane" Bland lived a life of faith, family and service. At an early age, working on the family farm in the small village of New Light, Chane was recognized as a hard worker. A trait she carried throughout her life. She was determined to provide for her family and sought out better opportunities in New York City.
After several years in the north, Chane purchased a home in New Jersey in the small shore town of Red Bank. There she raised her children, grandchildren and opened her home to adults with special needs. While in Red Bank, Chane was an active member of Mt. Zion House of Prayer Church. Later she joined Faith Tabernacle in Freehold.
Chane was the family's first entrepreneur and she purchased several homes in Monmouth and Camden County. During her stay in Camden, she attended Emmanuel C.O.G.I.C.
Mother Bland enjoyed classic movies, crunchy snacks and Sprite. Her passions were cleaning and organizing. No matter where she was, even when instructed NOT to by her children and grandchildren. She also liked to travel and went on numerous mission trips to the Caribbean and also toured Israel.
Mother Bland loved the Lord and was not ashamed to tell anyone that would listen or not. She loved to sing and worship and would often times sing wherever she was, whether in the grocery store, doctors office of sitting on her front porch. She was a praying woman (we often called her our "Praying Grandmother.")
She could be heard late at night calling the names of each of her children and grandchildren pleading to the Lord to save, deliver and cover them with the Blood of the Lamb. As much as she loved music and singing, she LOVED good preaching! She talked about her bishop and regularly watched her favorite preachers T.D. Jakes and Jimmy Swaggert.
Her signature "Hallelujuuuhhh" and "Glorrraaayyyyy" were heard every time she entered any church, to announce to all that she came to WORSHIP! Mother Bland's dedication to church and family was a living example of her favorite scripture Proverbs 31.
