Submitted by: Dan Rich

Mary Harris Bland

April 7, 1945 - Feb. 8, 1999

South Bend Tribune 2/11/1999

Mary Harris Bland, also known as Fran, 53, who lived at 411 South 25th Street, Apt. C-2, died of natural causes on Monday morning, Feb. 8. She was born on April 7, 1945 in West Helena, Ark., to the union of the late Cornelius and Senora (Johnson) Harris. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Connie Harris; and by two brothers, Bill Harris and Lee Harris. She came to live in Chicago, Ill., in 1965.

In 1977, in Chicago, she married Leslie Bland, Jr., who survives. She is also survived by a daughter, Tina Bailey; a son, Rheadie (Shataunia) Harris; an adopted son, Darryl Starks, all of South Bend; nine grandchildren; two sisters, Lovers Jean (Johnny) Gullens and Izola (Anthony) Bird, both of South bend; eight brothers, Sylvester Harris, Christopher Harris, Lacey Harris and Cornelius Harris, all of Chicago, Curtis Harris of South Bend, Timothy Harris of Buffalo, N.Y., Eugene Harris of West Helena, Ark., and Overtise Harris of Little Rock, Ark.; along with a host of nieces and nephews. Mary Harris-Bland was saved, sanctified, and a faithful former member of New Birth Church of God in Chicago and was also a writer. For ten years, she was a member of Faith Temple Church of God in Christ in South Bend, where she served as a missionary, bible band teacher, youth teacher, assistant pastor's aid, president and was a very good church worker.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday in Faith Temple. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the church. Alford's Mortuary has been entrusted with arrangements.