Mary Arden Wilson Bishop, 66, died Saturday, May 19, 2007 peacefully at her home in Hattiesburg, Miss., after an extended illness.
She was born March 30, 1941, delivered by Dr. P. Smith at the old Methodist Hospital. Her parents were Isaac Newton and Sarah Arden Hayles Wilson.
She was raised in Hattiesburgh and North Forrest County, Miss. She graduated from Eatonville High School in 1959 and the University of Southern Mississippi in 1962, known at the time as Mississippi Southern College.
While a student at USM, she met Henry G. Bishop from Fairhope, also a student at USM, and the two were married in August, 1961 at Bay Street Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburgh.
Henry Bishop became an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, and they had two children, Henry George III and Sarah Abigail.
Their marriage and service to ministry in the Presbyterian Church included Wyndale Presbyterian Church in Wyndale, Miss., Decherd Presbyterian Church in Decherd, Tenn., First Presbyterian Church in Macon, Miss., Raymond Presbyterian Church in Raymond, Miss., First Presbyterian Church in Crystal Springs, Miss., and Covenant Presbyterian Church in Montgomery.
After he retired from fulltime service in the Presbyterian Church of America, they moved for a brief time to Daphne, where he served part-time “stated supply” for Leakesville (Miss.) Presbyterian Church and Faith Presbyterian Church in Robertsdale. Recently, she returned to Hattiesburgh, where he served “stated supply” for Ellisville Presbyterian Church.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Sarah Arden Wilson.
Survivors include her husband, Henry G. Bishop Jr.; a son, H. George Bishop III; a daughter, Sarah Abigail Bishop (Dr. Micahel) Bakarich; six grandchildren, Andrew, Arden, Avery, Emily, Mary Claire and Anna Kate Bakarich; her father, Isaac Newton (Wadie) Wilson of Monticello, Miss.; three brothers, I. Newton (Becky) Wilson of Monticello, Charles (Terri) Wilson of Hattiesburg, and Robert (Cindy) Wilson of Hattiesburg; sister, Norma Wilson (the Rev. Loney J.) Hallberg of Monticello; several nieces and nephews, including Coy Wilson Vail, Leigh Wilson, Taylor Wilson, Mary Rebekah Hallberg, Michael Isaac “Ike” Wilson, Leslie Wilson and Peyton Wilson.
Funeral services and visitation were held Tuesday, May 22 at Bay Street Presbyterian Church. Interment followed at Roseland Park Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
Pallbearers were Andrew Bakarich, Ike Wilson, Taylor Wilson, David Pettry, John Norris and Erskine Pugh.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Bay Street Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg, Miss.
