Annie L. Chandler-Bland

Annie L. Cherry Chandler-Bland, age 74, of Forney, Texas, passed into the presence of
Jesus on December 19, 2020. Annie was born in Beckville, Texas, on January 6, 1946,
to Nellie Geneva and James Samuel Cherry. She grew up in Beckville and was very
involved in school activities. She played the clarinet in the junior high and high school
bands, was a member of the tennis team, the Future Homemakers of America, and the
National Honor Society. In 1964, her senior year at Beckville High School, she was
voted The Most Beautiful Girl and also the Football Team Sweetheart. After graduation,
she moved to Dallas and began working for Southwestern Bell, where she was soon
chosen as a model to introduce their new Princess Phone at the State Fair of Texas.
She continued working for Southwestern Bell and AT&T for 37 years until her
retirement. Ann married Jerry Chandler on September 24, 1966. They were married for
35 years until his death in 2001. They lived in Amarillo and Mesquite but called Forney
their “home” after 1979. Together, they devoted their lives to their only daughter, Dana.
Ann enjoyed spending time with her two grandchildren, Katelyn and Grayson Curry, and
did not miss any of their events, even if it entailed sitting in the rain and heat while
cheering them on as their number one fan. Ann loved playing board and card games
with family and friends, tending her flowers, and baking. She was especially known for
her pumpkin bread, pecan pies, pound cakes, and fried pies. She was a devoted
member of the First Baptist Church of Forney and a member of the Forney Garden
Club. Ann was blessed to find love times-two. She married Sammie Bland on March 2,
2013. Together, they spent nearly eight loving years traveling and enjoying “porch time”
at the little family ranch in Hamilton, Texas. Ann was a big-hearted, giving person, who
made everyone feel important. She was a beloved Wife, Mother, Sister, Nana, Mimi,
Aunt, Cousin, and friend to so many.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jerry; sisters: Christine
Armstrong, Leotis Wyatt, Elsie Loveless, Nell Murray; and brothers: William Waldrop
and Roy Waldrop. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Sammie Bland of
Forney, TX; daughter, Dana Curry and husband Richard of Forney, TX; and her “bonus
sons,” Stanley Bland and wife, Glenda of Forney, TX, and Mark Bland and wife, Vivian
of Cross Plains, TX; grandchildren: Katelyn Curry Neill and husband Josh of Abilene,
TX, and Grayson Curry of Forney, TX; and brother, Grady Cherry of Irving, TX. She was
blessed to be adopted as “Mimi” by Jennifer Phillips and husband Kyle of Porter, TX;
Jeff Bland and wife, Savanah of Gun Barrel City, TX; Kiel and wife Kaytie of Forney, TX;
and Kaydee Bland of Burleson, TX; along with eleven great-grandchildren.
Ann was also loved by numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and
extended family and friends, who will miss her dearly.
The family will hold a visitation at the First Baptist Church in Forney on Wednesday,
December 23, at 2:00 PM followed by a service at 3:00 PM. The family understands
these are very difficult and uncertain times. If you are not able to attend, we will feel
your presence from afar. Currently, we are planning for virtual attendance as an option.
However, this has not been finalized.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Hillcrest Cemetery Fund in Forney or
the Forney Community Ministries at www.ForneyCommunity.org to support various
projects of those in need.

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Annie L. Chandler-Bland, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.