James A.Bland,writer of 600 songs including “Carrying Me Back to Old Virginny,” Virginia’s state song of 1940,died May,5,1911. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ James Bland was born on October 22, 1854, in Flushing, Long Island, New York, to Allen M. Bland and Lidia Ann (Cromwell) Bland, one of 12 children. Allen Bland was one of the first black […]