Dr. John Harold Breland

Columbia, SC - A memorial service for Dr. John Harold Breland, 92, will be held at 4:00 pm on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Shandon Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends from 3:00-3:45 prior to the service and at a reception following the service in Davis Hall at the church.

Dr. Breland passed away Friday, December 1, 2023 due to complications from COVID-19. Born in Philadelphia, MS, on February 1, 1931, he was the son of the late Rev. John Ralph Breland and Jewell Pennington Breland. He was a graduate of French High School in Jefferson County, TX and attended Baylor University in Waco, TX. Later in life, Dr. Breland obtained a Masters in Teaching and a Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of South Carolina.

Because of his innate musical talent, Dr. Breland was selected, as one of three college students, at Baylor, to travel and sing throughout Europe and the British Isles on an Evangelistic Tour. This experience enriched his life and created an unending appreciation for music and travel.

Dr. Breland is the fourth generation of ordained Baptist ministers in his family. He attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY and served as Asst. Pastor at the Lafayette Park Baptist Church of St. Louis, MO and subsequently as Assoc. Pastor at First Baptist Church of Charleston, SC.

Due to his extensive musical training and experience, Dr. Breland later served a substantial part of his ministry as Director of Music at various churches, in Columbia, including Calvary Baptist Church, Kathwood Baptist Church and Forest Lake Presbyterian Church. He also utilized his passion for music by teaching voice and piano to students at Breland Studios of Music for many years.

Dr. Breland was known for his rich baritone voice which gave him the opportunity to enjoy singing in numerous local musicals and operas at Lyric Theatre, Town Theatre and Workshop Theatre in Columbia, SC. He was especially proud of his roles as Escamillo in the opera Carmen and Emile DeBecque in the musical South Pacific.

Dr. Breland later pursued an academic teaching career while obtaining his Masters and Doctoral degrees. He worked to establish the International Baccalaureate program at A.C. Flora High School, in Columbia, SC, and enjoyed teaching English Literature there for 16 years until his retirement.

Surviving are his 2 daughters, Julia Leslie Breland Jagmin (Lance) of Athens, GA and Lee Bates Breland Foster (Jim) of Beaufort County, SC and his 2 beloved granddaughters Julia Kathryn Jagmin and Breland Anne Foster. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Jule Bates Breland, and his sister, Jean Breland Johnson (Dennis) of Richardson, TX.

Throughout his life, Dr. Breland strove for excellence in the choirs he led and students he taught. He was also known by family and friends as a consummate gentleman and admired for his unrelenting love and care for his wife throughout their marriage, especially in her final years.

The family wishes to thank Brookdale Columbia, BrightStar Care and Agape Hospice for their service and care. Memorials may be made to the music ministry at Shandon Presbyterian Church.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.