There are some people whose love reaches far beyond their own family, and Sherry N. Bland-Friend, affectionately known as "Sherry B", was one of those rare people. Her heart was always open, her laughter was contagious, and her home was a place where everyone felt welcome.

Sherry was born on July 13, 1969, to Ethel Edmonds and Isiah Wynn. She peacefully departed this life on July 27, 2026, at home surrounded by the love of her family. She attended the Petersburg Public School System and later built a dedicated career with General Dynamics/Maximus, where she worked faithfully until her retirement.

To know Sherry was to know kindness. She had a beautiful way of making everyone feel seen, loved, and accepted. Whether you were family, a lifelong friend, or someone who simply needed a place to belong, Sherry welcomed you with open arms. She had a gift for treating every child who walked through her door as if they were one of her own, creating countless memories and lifelong bonds.

Sherry found joy in life's simple pleasures. She loved playing cards, enjoying a good game of bingo, and making trips to the casino. She was also an incredible cook whose meals brought family and friends together around the table. Whether she was preparing a holiday feast or a simple home-cooked dinner, she poured love into every dish. Her kitchen was a place filled with laughter, comfort, and unforgettable memories.

Family meant everything to Sherry. She treasured spending time with her devoted husband, cherished family game nights, and adored every moment she spent with her children and grandchildren. Her love was steady, selfless, and unconditional, and she made sure everyone around her knew they were loved. She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Sherese "Ree-Ree" Bland; her father, Isiah Wynn; her aunts, Carolyn Thomas and Sandra Taylor; and her grandparents, Mary Lee Thomas and Gable Thomas.

Sherry leaves to cherish her precious memories with her loving and devoted husband, Ignatius M. Friend; her mother, Ethel Edmonds; her in-laws, Pastor Ralph and Lelia Friend; her children, Anissa Bland, Darrel Bland (Charkira Langford), Jenay Bland, Ignatius M. Friend II, and TiShawn Friend; and her beloved goddaughter, Jamya Creighton. She also leaves behind her sister, Karen Bland (Adam Stith); sister-in-law, Shannon Griffin; and her cousins/sister, Tawana Alston and Audra Joyner. Her love will continue through her cherished grandchildren: Davion Bland, Nikyah Bland, Nyasia Bland, Nalani Bland, Aaron Hawkins, Kariyah Bland, Khloni Bland, and Ryleigh Bland.

She is also survived by her aunt, Ella Thomas; nieces, Adrienne Ridley (Raymond) and Courtney Bland (Jaquan Griffin); nephews, Timothy Joyner and Jameson Griffin; great nieces and great nephews, Raymond Bland, Rayshauna Bland and Raykauri Ridley; cousins, Damien Thomas, George Taylor, Jr. and Kenny Streater; her lifelong friends, Angie Walker, Melanie Thompson, Yolanda Murlock, Darriel Creighton and Cynthia Jones; special family friends, Reverend Pastor Robert and Leslie Harney, Jr.; along with a host of loving cousins, extended family members, dear friends, and the many "adopted" children whose lives she touched with her unconditional love.

Sherry's legacy is not measured by material things, but by the countless lives she impacted with her compassion, generosity, laughter, and unwavering love. She taught us that family isn't only who you're born to - it's also the people you choose to love with your whole heart.

Though our hearts are heavy, we find comfort in knowing that her love lives on in each of us.  Her smile, her warmth, her strength, her cooking, and the memories she gave us will forever remain a blessing.

Services will be held 12 Noon, Friday, August 14, 2026, at New First Baptist Church, 1346 Grant Avenue, Petersburg, VA, the Rev. Robert A. Harney, Pastor and officiating, Bishop Vincent Harris, eulogist.

J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911 , www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com. Watch the funeral services live online on our J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc. Facebook page or click here to view: https://vimeo.com/event/6112933?fl=so&fe=fs