BLAND, Mr. Alvin C.,  83, from Luverne, Alabama died on July 2, 2013 after a brief illness.  He was preceeded in death by his parents, Alvin C. Bland, Sr. and Lucinda E. Bland of Clayton, Alabama, and his two sisters June Hurst of Clayton, Alabama and Mary Neil Tucker of Montgomery, Alabama. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda Johnson Bland and his daughters Leitha (Christopher) Boutwell of Montgomery, Alabama and Jeanelle (Stanley) Day of Tolland, Connecticut. He had two granddaughters, Catherine Ann Boutwell and Mollie Elizabeth Boutwell of Montgomery, Alabama.   He was the editor of The Luverne Journal  from 1959 to 1996. Always active in the community, he served 16 years on the Luverne City Council from 1962-1978. He was a founding member of the Luverne Kiwanis Club, a life-long member of the Luverne Methodist Church beginning his service as youth counselor and serving in many capacities throughout the years. In addition, he was a member of Crenshaw County Chapter of Gideon International. The funeral service will be held on Friday, July 5, 2013 at Turner Funeral Home in Luverne, Alabama at 11:00 AM with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM. The service will be officiated by Drs. Stuart Greene of the Newnan (GA) First United Methodist Church and Bob Yawn of the Luverne Methodist Church. Interment will follow the service at the Luverne Emmaus Cemetery with Turner Funeral Home of Luverne directing.  In lieu of the flowers, memorials may be made to the Susanna Wesley Group-Luverne Methodist Church, Gideons International, or the Luverne Emmaus Cemetery Fund