FRANKLIN - Betty Lou Bishop, age 83, went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. She was born on Jan. 22, 1939, in the Pumpkintown Community of Jackson County, but had been a resident of Macon County for the past 18 years.
She was preceded in death by her father, William Alexander “Alex” Woodard; mother, Bertha Lou (Hyatt) Woodard “Aunt Berthie”; sister, Helen Bowers; brother Dexter Woodard; and infant twin brothers, Frank and George.
She is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Kenneth Bishop; sons, Michael Bishop (Sharon) and Maurice Bishop (Laura); daughter, Maureen Sutton (Scott); grandchildren Brett Wilson (Becky), Michael Bishop, Christina Bishop (Matthew), Anna Smith (Joe), Matthew Bishop (Kelli), Garrett Sutton and Carrie Sutton; great-grandchild, Theo Smith; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Betty worked several years in the textile industry as a seamstress and as a floral designer. After retiring, she was a homemaker where she enjoyed sewing, cooking, gardening, canning, reading, teaching Sunday School, and going on adventures with the love of her life, traveling to the Amish country in Ohio, the Outer Banks and all the way to the west coast in their motor home. Her family was so important to her. She was a “Daddy’s girl” and as a young child, her fondest memory was going to town in the wagon with her father. Later in life, she loved spending time with her children and spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchild. She loved hosting family celebrations and having everyone together making her famous macaroni and cheese and fried potatoes.
She was a dedicated Christian and loved studying the Bible daily, a practice passed down from her mother. She and her husband have read the entire Bible every year over the last 30 plus years. She was a member of Windy Gap Baptist Church, a previous member of Zion Hill Baptist Church, where she and her husband Kenneth were recognized for over 50 years of service to the church. One of the greatest passions and joys in her faith was seeing people accept Christ into their lives. From a very early age, she demonstrated God’s love by serving and caring for others in so many ways and will be greatly missed by those whose lives she touched.
The family received friends on Sunday, June 12 at Macon Funeral Home. The funeral was held at Windy Gap Baptist Church on Monday, June 13, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the cemetery fund for Windy Gap Baptist Church or Zion Hill Baptist Church.
Pallbearers were her grandsons Matthew, Garrett and Michael, and nephews Steve Bowers, Steve Bishop and Don Sims. Honorary pallbearers were Brett Wilson, Joey Greene, Joe Smith, Bill Bishop and Howard Bishop.
Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com. Macon Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements.