Cecil W. Bishop, Sr., 89, of Tifton, died Friday, July 21, 2006, at Southern Care Assisted Living. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 24, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Jimmie Odum will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Gene Hancock, Tommy Lamb, Ralph Fendley, Richard Wood, David Hathorn, Mack Sirmans, Kenneth Willis, Wayne Rutland, Johnny Rutland, Russell Hill, Van Belflower, Farrell Davis, Charles Petty and Andy Pierce. The staff of Southern Care Assisted Living will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 23, 2006, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Bishop was born on April 29, 1917 in Tift County and was the son of William McQueen Bishop and Jenie Arnold Bishop, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Sara Evelyn Gibbs Bishop; one daughter, Shirley B. Holloway; six brothers; and one sister. He was a lifelong resident of Tifton and a member of Second Baptist Church in Tifton. Mr. Bishop was the founder of Bishop Well & Pump Service in 1943, which he owned and operated for 35 years until selling it in 1978. He married his wife of 55 years, Sara Evelyn Gibbs, on October 26, 1946. He served 27 years of dedicated Christian service as brotherhood director of the Mell Baptist Association (1960-1987). He served as deacon at Second Baptist Church in Tifton for over 40 years and, in 1998, he became an honorary deacon. He was an avid gardener and fisherman and visted the nursing homes on a weekly basis, bringing joy and the Love of God to each and everyone he met.
Mr. Bishop is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, C. W., Jr. and Sherry Bishop of Tifton; two daughters and sons-in-law, Virginia and Andy Harrell of Saint Augustine, Florida and Myra and Mark McGill of Tifton; one brother, Clenon Bishop of Tifton; two sisters, Willie Mae Rooks of Tifton and Ilene Tidwell of Tifton; eight grandchildren, Paul Harrell of Jacksonville, Florida, Sonia Elmer of Atlanta, Marc Harrell of Saint Augustine, Florida, Angie Saturday of Moultrie, Wayne McGill of Atlanta, Heather Putnal of Tifton, Emily McGill of Tifton and Melissa McGill of Tifton; and five great grandchildren, Kyle Harrell of Jacksonville, Florida, Sara Putnal of Tifton, Thomas Elmer of Atlanta, Timothy Elmer of Atlanta and Anna Putnal of Tifton.