Kelli Bland

Kelli Lyn Bland, 37, of Hixson passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 6, 2011. She was born on June 26, 1973, in Valdosta, Ga.She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Joseph A. Mauldin; her paternal grandfather, Durward L. Bland; and her cousin, Joey Pruitt.She graduated from Valdosta High School with Honors. She was a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor in Industrial Engineering where she was a member of Alpha Chi Sorority. She received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Prior to moving to Chattanooga, she lived in Atlanta where she was employed as a sales engineer. She was previously employed by U.S. Xpress.Kelli is survived by her parents, Serie and Richard Bland, of Signal Mountain; her maternal grandmother, Avaline Mauldin, of Hueytown, Ala.; her paternal grandmother, Dorothy Bland, of Valdosta, Ga.; her aunt, Shyrie (Beatty) Holladay, of Hueytown, Ala.; her uncles: James L. (Gail) Bland, of Kennesaw, Ga., W. Michael (Brenda) Bland, of Valdosta, Ga.; cousins, Jeff (Pam) Pruitt, Sarah Pruitt, Benji Pruitt, Angie (Nick) Brown, Brianna Brown, of Hueytown, Ala., Tim Hall, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Brittany Pruitt, of Pinson, Ala., Jason Bland, of Paris, France, Catherine (Matt) Elrod, of Lawrenceville, Ga., Jay Bland and Jeff Bland, of Kennesaw, Ga. and Jennifer (Nate) Salvemini, of Navarre, Fla.; and her sweet and devoted puppy, Zac.The family will receive friends from 1 until 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life service will follow with the Rev. Jeff Lambert officiating. Burial will be at Hamilton Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Red Bank Pet Placement Center, 5975 Dayton Boulevard, Red Bank, TN 37415, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association, 99 Cherry Street, P.O. Box 502, Milford, CT 06460, or a charity of your choice.Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist, North Chapel.Share your thoughts and memories on line at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.