Wanda Batson Bland

Wanda Batson-Bland, affectionately known as “Wanda B”, aged 68, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2024 at Tidal Health Nanticoke Hospital, surrounded by family.

She was born on January 10, 1956 to the late Donald Friend and Doris Ann Batson.  Wanda lived in Caroline County all of her life.  She attended Colonel Richardson High School where she was a proud graduate of the class of 1975.

Upon graduation, she entered the workforce landing a job at Bay Shore Poultry where unbeknownst to her; she met the love of her life / soul-mate, Willie Bland.  They entered into their holy union on September 28, 1985, and spent 39 years together in marital bliss. She also worked at Black and Decker for over 20 years until they closed their doors. In her spare time, she worked part time at Walmart. Before her death, she was employed by Caroline County Public Schools as a bus driver.  Both she and Willie could be found trailing each other in route to the schools.  They were inseparable; when you saw one, you undoubtedly saw the other.

At a young age, Wanda gave her life to Christ beginning her salvation at Bethel United Church in Federalsburg, Maryland.  Most recently she was a faithful member of Immanuel House of Praise in Seaford, Delaware for the past 18 years. Under the leadership of Bishop Carlton Bowers, she served on the trustee board and volunteered for any and all things, exemplifying a dedicated servant of the Lord.  She could be found running around the church on any given Sunday.

She was a textbook example of an angel walking amongst us on Earth. No matter how tired she was or how much pain she endured, she was always willing to go the extra mile to make another person’s life easier for them.

Wanda’s favorite pastime was shopping.  Not only shopping for herself per se, but for any and everybody.  Should you mention the desire to have a particular item, she would commit it to memory and before you knew it, it would be yours. Her favorite song was “Wildflower” by The New Birth.  She was indeed a “free and gentle flower, growing wild, picked from the garden” by none other than her soul mate, Willie Bland. She loved to dance. She would break out at any family function doing her favorite dance, the funky chicken. 

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, Donald Friend and Jural and Doris Ann Butler, and two sisters, Lisa Stanley and Bonnie Beamon.

She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Willie Bland, three children, Lakesha Hammond (Shawn), Ariel Thompson, and William Bland, six sisters, Vanessa Draine, Lynn Nickerson-Jones (Vernon), Charlene Houney, Charlene Saunders (Marlette), Channell Smith (Abdul-Ali Shakur), and Roberta Lake, four brothers, Byron Friend (Shirl), Donald Friend, Angus Friend and Eric Butler.  She had 9 grandchildren, Kennesha, Shawn Jr, Ajay (Ashley), Jaquan (Leeann), Te’Quan, Elijah, Tikylah, Keshawna, and Kaliana, 7 great- grandchildren, 2 God daughters, Alonda and Brianna, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

We bid farewell to a true loved one and beacon of light.  She departed this world leaving behind a legacy of warmth and kindness.  Wanda walked through life with a gentle strength touching the lives of everyone she encountered with unforgettable love.  We will always carry her memory in our hearts and minds.

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