JOHN WILLIE BLAND
1940 - 2020

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."   II Timothy 4:7

John Willie Bland was born March 20, 1940 to Andrew J. Bland and Annie Teel  in San Augustine, Texas.

Coming to Houston, at the age of eight, he was reared by his Mother and Argustus Horn, his Dad.  John attended J. C. Sanderson Elementary, E. O. Smith Junior High, and graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School in 1958.  He attended Texas Southern University, majoring in business administration.  John became involved in the 1st sit-in to be staged in Houston, and soon became a founding member of the Progressive Youth Association which was instrumental in securing the integration of public accommodations in the Bayou City.  During his tenure with the PYA, John also campaigned for the hiring of African Americans as clerks and salespeople at major retail stores, such as Foley's, Walgreens, and J. C. Penney.

After leaving T.S.U., he became a bus operator of HouTran, now known as METRO.  He later became active in Transport Workers Union of American Local 260 as a steward and secretary-treasurer.  From the local level, he became a TWU International Representative; he became an International Administrative Vice President of Transport Workers Union.  He was employed with T.W.U. for 53+ years when he retired in 2018.  After retirement, he remained as a consultant and Director of Civil Rights until December 2019.  John was always passionate about protecting the rights of workers.  In Houston and surrounding areas, he organized transportation employees in Houston, Aldine, North Forest, Dayton, Lufkin, Humble, Conroe, and Spring Independent School Districts, as well as in the El Paso ISD and several West Texas school districts.

Being drafted by the U. S. Army in 1963, he served his country  with a tour of duty in Korea and received an honorable discharge in 1965.

He served as Texas vice president of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, as vice president of Texas State AFL-CIO, and as president of the Houston chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionist.

Mr. Bland played an active role in civil affairs.  He served as a precinct chair for more than 30 years and worked with Senator Rodney Ellis as Senatorial District Chair of District 13.  He also served as chair of the Houston Police Department Citizen Review Committee.  In his community, he served two terms on the Summerwood Homeowners Association Board, with the last as president.

John gave generously of his time and talents to Bethany Baptist Church SBC, where he was a deacon and trustee.  He served as deacon, trustee and administration for 20+ years at his previous church.

He has traveled and cruised to most countries.  His travels took him to the Caribbean many times, South America, Tahiti, Alaska, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, China, and Australia/New Zealand.  He also toured the Holy Land twice, Greece, South and West Africa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Argustus and Annie Horn, and A.J. Bland; brother Jerry Horn, and sister Shirley Bland.

He leaves in God's care to cherish his memories, his wife Betty, 2 daughters, Debbie and Fayetta , grandson Jordan, great granddaughter, Abigail; brothers, Ronald Horn (Vern), Dwight Horn, Christopher Horn; sisters, Sherry Horn, Monica Malone, Janice Sandel, and Cheryl Virgil; brother in-law, Eddie  Davis.  He also leaves 2 special brothers, Timothy Demby and Anthony Reed; godson, Darrell Kepney (Casaundra), Administrative Assistant, Carolyn Scott; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The Life and Legacy Celebration for John Willie Bland  will began on Wednesday, July 22nd - Viewing from 6 pm to 8 pm, at Bethany Baptist Church SBC, 7304 Homestead Rd., Houston, Texas 77028.  Funeral will be held Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 11 am (body will lie in state from 10 am to 10:55 am), at Bethany Baptist Church - Dr. Steve W. Hall Sr., Pastor/Officiant.

The funeral service will be live streamed at http://www.bethany1925.com

"Masks are required"

Final resting place at Houston National (VA) Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, TX (77038) - 1 :45 pm gate time.