Margaret Mitchell Bishop

Margaret Mitchell Bishop, 92, widow of CMSgt Rodger E. Bishop, USAF ret., died Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at Prisma Health Tuomey. Born December 26, 1931, in Union County, she was a daughter of the late Luther A. Mitchell and the late Gladys Lancaster Mitchell. Mrs. Bishop grew up in Buffalo, SC, graduated from Union High School, retired from civil service with the US Air Force and was a member of McLeod Chapel Methodist Church in Rembert and a previous member of Grace Baptist Church in Sumter. She was a strong, compassionate matriarch and a beautiful southern lady. Mrs. Bishop was an important person in the lives of so many people: loving wife to Rodger and mother to Ken and Brett and their wives; adoring grandmother to her seven grandsons and great-grandchildren, who gave her the honorable title of MeMe; devoted sister to her only sibling, Etta; and loyal, sweet and encouraging friend to everyone who had the opportunity to meet her. She loved music and was a fabulous cook and she shared these talents with her children, grandchildren and many others. Her most distinctive characteristic, for which she will be most remembered, was her ability to make every single person feel special and loved. Survivors include a son, Brett and his wife Nancy of Sumter; a daughter-in-law, Jan Bishop, of Columbia, NC; seven grandsons and their wives/significant others: Andrew and Rebekah; Mitch and Ashley; Mac and Kate; Paul and Katie; Rodger II and Liz; Parker and Hannah; and Lucas and Cathy; nine great grandchildren, Devon, Liam, Ken III, Ella, Izzy, Parker, Sonny, Maggie, and Quinn; one sister, Etta Mae Jenkins of Glenn Springs; a niece, Dina Brazil and her husband Steve; a nephew, Mitchell Jenkins; and a great niece, Abby Jenkins; and numerous other precious family and special friends. In addition to her husband and parents she was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Mitchell Bishop. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel officiated by the Rev. Marcus Johnston. Burial will be in the Sumter Cemetery. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home, 515 Miller Road, Sumter, SC 29150 and other times at the home, 1127 Barnwell Drive, Sumter, SC 29154. Memorials may be sent to Radius Ministries c/o Salt and Light Church, 360 Miller Road, Sumter, SC 29150.