WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Hometown Hero: Sharon Bland

Hometown Hero: Sharon Bland

By Jennifer Serda - email | bio

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Just in time for Grandparents Day this Sunday, we honor a grandmother who has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Grandmother Sharon Bland is the grandmother of seven grandchildren.

When her oldest son was deployed for the third time to Iraq, Sharon signed up for full time grandma duty. She took in four of her grandchildren and used her grandma skills to calm some serious fears, like death.

Sharon says she would cook with her grandkids to get them to open up about their fears and concerns while their father was overseas and suggests other grandparents, in the same situation, do the same.

"You could play little games and ask them, well how are you feeling today, you know, what's on your mind. So if you want to cook with your grandkids that's something good to do hands on and plus you can talk to them during that time then they express their feelings more too because there in there doing something," Sharon said.

Sharon's son returned home safely from Iraq and currently lives in Aberdeen, Maryland with his children. Sharon says it is a blessing to be a grandmother.

"It's the best feeling in the world, I can't describe it in words, it's a warm feeling to know these little ones are looking up to you and like aw that's grandma she is going to take care of me."

And that makes Sharon Bland this week's WTOC Hometown Hero.

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