Grandmother’s slaying stuns those who knew victim, suspect

In 14 years, Glenda Woodard had never been late to work.

And she’d only taken time off for the death of her mother last month, and the death of her brother before that.

“So when she was late, we knew something wasn’t right,” said Marge McNaught, owner of Dream Catchers Senior Care Communities, where the 61-year-old Woodard worked as a night manager. “So we called her emergency contact.”

Family members found Woodard dead inside her Butts County home Tuesday evening, and investigators would eventually accuse her grandson, JeNorman Bland, of beating her to death.

Butts County Sheriff Gary Long told 750 AM and 95.5 FM WSB News/Talk Radio that Bland told investigators he went to Woodard’s house asking for a ride to the store, but she was getting ready to go to work. Bland went outside, grabbed a bat, then came back in and began chasing and hitting her, according to Long.

“She was struck multiple times with a baseball bat,” Long told the station.

Sheriff’s officials said Bland, 18, confessed.

He is charged with murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping and armed robbery, and is being held at the Butts County jail pending a bond hearing Thursday at 9:30 a.m., authorities said.

But those in and around the town of Jackson, where Bland lived next door to his grandmother, are puzzled by what authorities say he did.

“I believe he loved her. I really do,” said family member Mozal Mayfield. “I know there’s no reason for him not to love her. I really don’t understand what could’ve happened.”

Neighbor Maury Webb questioned the motive investigators presented for the alleged beating.

“It had to be more than that,” Webb said. “Because she would pretty much bend over backwards for her grandchildren.”

Moreover, those who knew Woodard said she’d do the same for just about anyone.

“She was a very loving person,” Mayfield said.

McNaught said everyone at Dream Catcher loved Woodard.

“She’s a great lady and we’re all going to miss her,” she said.

Webb said Woodard was “an angel” to him and other inmates when she was a jailer for the Butts County jail and he was serving time there.

“Most of the time, at places like that, you get dehumanized,” Webb said. “But no matter who came in that jail, no matter what crime, this woman right here treated everybody like they were somebody.”

Little is known of Bland, and his grieving family members have declined to comment.

Sheriff’s officials said he had no adult criminal record, and students at Jackson High School said the senior was quiet.

“Unless you made really close friends with him, he didn’t talk to a lot of people,” student Jon Wedemeier said.

Webb said Bland is going to sorely regret losing his grandmother.