Glenda Carlile

Glenda Joyce Bland Carlile (83), of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Glenda was born in Wakeeney, Kansas on November 6, 1942 to Robert and Beryl Bland. She graduated from the baccalaureate nursing program at Northwestern State University and then went to Maryland to earn her graduate degree from the University of Maryland. Glenda was one of the pioneers in nursing education in Louisiana. As a Master’s prepared faculty, she helped phase out the BR Campus of the BS of Nursing program of NSC, and then joined the faculty of Southeastern Louisiana University School of Nursing–Baton Rouge Clinical Campus. She was one of the first faculty who taught upper level nursing courses in adult health at SLUSON, and she taught there for 20 years.

In 1990, she was hired as a major contributor in the beginning development of the Associate Degree curriculum at OLOL SON ( Fran U) and taught there for 10 years.

In both of these schools, she worked tirelessly with the LA Student Nurse’s Association.

Glenda was a dedicated member of the professional nursing organizations– BRDNA, LSNA, and ANA. Her years of exceptional, professional nursing contributions were recognized by BRDNA with a “Celebrate Nursing Award.” She was one of the first registered nurses to be recognized by the LSNA at the First Annual Nightingale Awards ceremony with the “Hall of Fame” award. Glenda was also a former member of Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing and the retired Nurses Association. She will be remembered as educating thousands of registered nurses in Louisiana.

Glenda is survived by her three daughters— Claudene Cockrum (Corbit), Camille Michelli (Mike), and Clarice Gautreaux. She is also survived by her brother, Larry Bland and her sister, Judy Bland Cogburn. Glenda had several grandchildren: Jack Cockrum, III (Madeline), Emma Cockrum, Lauren Michelli Dougherty (Aaron), Jacob Michelli, Matthew Michelli, and Evan Gautreaux. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Beryl Bland.

From early in her adulthood, Glenda fell in love with traveling. She traveled to over 10 countries and did missionary work in a few of them as well. She loved learning about the history of her family and devoted years to genealogy where she discovered a distant relative of hers had signed the Declaration of Independence.

She was also an active member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). She was a member of the John James Audubon Chapter of DAR where she served as secretary and on the Service to Veterans and American History Committees. She loved the holidays and spending time with her family, especially her three girls. She was an avid Bridge and Pokeno player and enjoyed her time with her Southeastern Pokeno group.

You could always find her in the kitchen cooking up a feast so that the family could gather together and have fun. She was a faithful Christian and life-long member of her beloved church, West Baton Rouge Presbyterian where she was a member of the Presbyterian Women's Circle and was Mission Chairperson.

Glenda's family will host a celebration of her life on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at Greenoaks Funeral Home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Visitation will be from 4-8. On Thursday, December 4, 2025, there will be a short viewing from 9-10 am at the West Baton Rouge Presbyterian Church in Port Allen, Louisiana, with a memorial service and burial to follow. Donations in honor of Glenda’s life may be donated to her church (WBR Presbyterian Church) in lieu of flowers.