Obituaries: Jesse Bland, 1960, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: January 7, 1960 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Jesse Bland Dies In Early Morning Blaze; Funeral Held Monday

Jesse Bland, 67 year old retired sawmill worker was burned to death in a fire
which leveled his home in South Winnfield during the early morning hours
Sunday.

The elderly man was the first fire victim in Winnfield since 1953, when Floyd
Wren died in the fire which burned the F. C. Wren family home.

Winnfield Fire Chief Byron Tullos reported the fire was reported at 1:30 a.m.
Sunday by a neighbor, Mrs. Bertice Gilcrease, who woke and saw Mr. Bland's
house in flames.  Firemen found the wood frame dwelling practically leveled
when they arrived.  Only a few boards were left standing on one corner of the
house and the fallen walls and floors were burning furiously.

The Lee Bland family, the elder Mr. Bland's sons, who live next door, told
firemen they first noticed the fire when the light from the intense flames
awakened them.  "It was a light as day in our home," they said.

Cause of the fire was not known.  Firemen said Mr. Bland's body was found in
the kitchen part of the burned house.  The kitchen adjoined the bedroom. 
Effects found near his body including several coins, and overall buttons
indicated Mr. Bland was clothed when overcome by the flames.

The house, located on South Grove Street, two blocks southeast of the American
Creosote Works grounds, was owned by J. T. Watts.

Funeral services were held for Mr. Bland at 2 p.m. Monday at Southern Funeral
Home chapel, with Rev. J. A. Cockerham of Joyce officiating.  Burial was in
Garden of Memories Cemetery under direction of Southern Funeral Home.

Mr. Bland was born March 12, 1892 in Arkansas, and was a member of the Baptist
Church.

He is survived by three sons, Lee Bland, James Bland, and Willie H. Bland, all
of Winnfield; two daughters, Mrs. Bessie Vines and Mrs. Izora Vines, of Route
2, Dodson; one brother, Leslie Bland of Missouri; and 11 grandchildren.