July 18, 1995 – June 13, 2024
Eric Roosevelt Bland, 26, gained his wings on June 13, 2024.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am – 2:00pm on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at First Call Plus Chapel in Kent, Washington with Pastor Bryan Jones. Cremation will follow after the viewing service.
Eric was born Tuesday, July 18, 1995, to Theresa Travis and Darrell Bland Sr. in Seattle, Washington. He entered the world with love and happily shared that love with his family and put it into everything he did. Eric enjoyed his independence, music, video games, health and fitness.
He was also a big fan of his little brother Semaj. He was kind, observant, reserved, and always enjoyed spending time with his little brother and spending holidays with family. He was able to put his energy into whatever he set his mind to.
He also had a laugh that could bring joy to anyone’s heart. Eric loved spending time with his brothers and cousins, and he was very excited to be a big brother to his little brother Semaj.
Eric had a big heart, and he loved his adoptive family. His presence in our lives will be deeply missed, but memories of time spent with him will live on through everyone who knew him.
Survivors include his adoptive mother Jamie Jackson and her life partner Anthony Wilson (Coop), his brothers, Michael Jackson, Semaj Taylor, Jeremiah Bland Darrell Bland, Marcus Bland, William Bland, Jahyaire Wilson and his two sisters Rebekah Bland, Abigail Bland, his cousins Andre Pickens, Jaquan Jackson, Leilani Jackson, Lyrrehc Clemons, My’Shana Jackson, Phoenix Clemons, his grandparents, James and Gracie Jackson, as well as his aunt Cherryl Jackson Williams and uncles Mark Tate, Charles Clemons, Azziem Underwood and godfather Bryan Jones.
Eric was preceded in death by his mother Theresa Travis and father Darrell Bland Sr.
Son, I love and miss you so much. There are no words for the pain in my heart. My heart is shattered in million pieces. You will always be my chosen child and my oldest son. I will always remember the love in your eyes and heart for your little brother Semaj from the day I brought him home from the hospital. You laid in the bed with me and your little brother and looked at him with a heartfelt smile for hours.
I find solace in our last words to each other being I love you. You are loved and missed dearly. I will always cherish the time we spent together, whether it was me teaching how to drive, going to the Beacon Hill Produce Stand, or spending birthdays and holidays together. I loved your birthday and Valentine’s day cards and gifts. I love you with all my heart and will forever miss you!
Love you, Mom
Hey Eric, I wish I could have seen you before you were gone, so you could see how much I grown as a person that you could be proud of, I reminisce when you would come over and me and you would play video games for hours and hours and we'd make jokes saying "We're so good the game kicked us out" each time we'd lose connection. I wish we could've had more interactions other than that and had spent more time as brothers like talking to each other about life and how we've been at the time, it hurts that you didn't get to see me when I was 14 or meet me now at 15 and it kills me that I haven't been able to express how I feel in front of friends, family, or while I'm by myself.
I wish I could have seen you when mom visited you, and it kills me that I couldn't and it wasn't because you didn't want to see me, and it was because you didn't want me to see you like that, That Tuesday would have been my last opportunity to see you and I try not to think about that too often, not because it would have been my first and last time seeing you after a year, but because you didn't want to disappoint me via seeing you at one of your lowest points, when I was told that was why it made me feel terrible but at the same time cherished that you cared that much about my depiction of you.
I'm still talkative like I was when we last talked but I've matured since then. It doesn't feel right not having you being there giggling at my jokes, learning how to drive with mom, or just chatting it up with another member of the family.
Home didn't and still doesn't feel the same without you coming over and visiting with me. I feel comforted thinking of you still looking out for me from up top, I love and I miss you brother, I'll be good and I'll see you later.
Love you, Semaj
Lil E, I can't put in words what you meant to me as a little brother usually little brothers want to be like their big Bro or brothers but you had "Your Own Swag" and I loved you extra for that I Was Always Your protector Now The Highest Power Called You Home Now.
Your My Protector I hear you and still feel you brother just for you I am going start rapping or my stand up because you always wanted me to do that and you wanted to be the camera man I Got You. I Love You and You will Always In My Heart.
Forever Your Brother, Andre
Dear Eric, I can't put into words how much I am going to miss you. I will never forget the little shy, quite kid that would follow behind us and always laugh at the simplest of things, your forever in my heart and I hope you wrap your arms around this family and protect us from the evils of this world... you will always be remembered, loved and celebrated. I love you little brother, you will be missed.
Love Jaquan
Nephew I'm going to miss you laughing, playing basketball and playing video games. I'm going to miss talking to you and you making your smoothies.
Love you forever, Uncle Mark
We love and miss you! You are safe and in the GOD’s hands.
Love you, Grandpa and Grandma
“Miss Me But Let Me Go”
Written by Christine Georgina Rossetti
When I come to the end of the road,
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little – but not for long.
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that once we shared.
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we must all take,
And each must go alone.
It’s all part of the master plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart,
Go to the friends we know,
Laugh at all the things we used to do.
Miss me, but let me go.
Songs
If I Would Have Known by Kyle Hume
You Are Not Alone by Michael Jackson