Carolyn Virginia Bland went to her Heavenly home on Friday, May 12, 2023, surrounded by her family after battling cancer. After years of retail, she retired from managing several Huddle House restaurants in Jesup, Baxley, Douglas, and Fernandina Beach. Carolyn loved being surrounded by her children and grandchildren. The large family gatherings made her heart smile. In years past, Mrs. Bland enjoyed creating and painting ceramics with the ceramic club taught by Mrs. Forehand at the Wayne County Recreation Center. She became proficient at the art form and even had her very own kiln at her home. Throughout Carolyn's childhood and her adult life, her parents taught her the method of canning their own vegetables, peanuts, and jellies and processing their own meats. That part of her legacy has been handed down and is still practiced by her children and grandchildren. Carolyn loved to cook and through the years was famous for her chicken & dumplings, her mothers pecan cake, and buttermilk biscuits. On her best days, Carolyn would be found sitting on the back of the pontoon boat on the Altamaha River chasing the best catfish holes. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward & Juanita Manning and a sister, Eddie Grace McMorris.

Mrs, Bland is survived by four daughters, Carol Waters (the late Bob Waters), Tina Privett (Brad Privett), Missie Counts, and Tabitha Beaver (Earl Beaver); 10 Grandchildren, 21 Great Grandchildren, and 8 Great-Great grandchildren; two sisters, Barbara Griffis and Hazel Fowler, and a host of nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held 5 PM, Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Grace Assembly of God with Pastor Dale Bange officiating. Family and friends are invited to attend.

Family will receive friends one hour prior to services on Tuesday.

Mrs. Bland's family would like to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the amazing staff from Hospice of South Georgia. Her caregivers, Taylor Thornton, Tiffany Dodd, Melanie Tillman, Bree Brown, and Tatianna Jacobs will forever hold a very special place in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd, Jesup, GA 31545.

The Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup is in charge of the arrangements.