Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Bishop, Thomas A., 1922 

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THOMAS A. BISHOP

   Thomas A. Bishop was born September 24, 1843 and died November 1, 1922, aged 
79 years, one month and 24 days.

   On September 20, 1873 he married Delia J. Story, and from this union were 
born thirteen children, of whom with their mother, the following survive him; 
Misses Delia, Viola, Lina and Nellie Bishop, Mrs. Andrew Story of Portsmouth 
and one son, Benjamin P. Bishop.

   When 21 years of age he volunteered in Co. A, 13th Virginia Cavalry, and for 
four years followed the flag of the South, from Williamsburg to Appomattox. 
Ever in the front of battle and never absent from duty, he went through that 
heroic period, unscathed.

   From the tragedy at Appomattox he came, on his old war horse, back to the 
old home, and out of the fields over which in boyhood he had romped and played, 
essayed to rebuild from the wreck and wastes of war.

   For more than two score years, he served his county as a Justice of the 
Peace, with the same efficiency and fidelity that marked his martial service.

   He died just ere the East took on the light of dawn, and doubtless as the 
bugles in the old days sounded "Lights Out", so, when the summons came, he was 
ready to obey, and as the weary work of the world was put aside and the heavy 
burden of advanced age fell from him, his vision caught the glow of the 
Celestial dawn, and the sweet, soft cadences of the Angelic Choir brought 
surcease from all sorrow and welcomed him to the rest which awaits the redeemed.

   The funeral services were conducted by Rev. H.J. Paylor, his pastor, 
assisted by Revs. L.S. Flournoy and S.S. Myrick. The active pallbearers were 
his nephews, K.R. Bishop, S.S. Bishop, R.E. Barrett, H.G. Barrett, Ridley 
Drake, Vernon Drake, Leroy Barrett and Willie Blow. The following were the 
honorary pallbearers, C.C. Vaughan, Sr., L.L. Manry, J.F. Bishop, J.H. 
Hedgepeth, Wm. Cook, T.W. Thorp, S.R. Nicholson, J.R. Gilliam, T.E. Bryant and 
R. Howard.

   In the quiet church yard at old Mount Horeb his body was laid to rest and 
for long years to come, those who knew him and were wont to see him pass up its 
aisles in humble devotion, will recall his loyalty to duty, and pay silent 
tribute to the brave old soldier, the faithful and affectionate husband and 
father, the good citizen and the kind and genial friend and neighbor.

   "He is not dead but sleepeth! Well we know/ 
    The form that lies today beneath the sod/ 
    Shall rise what time the golden bugles blow/ 
    And pour their music through the Courts of God."


[Thomas A. BISHOP, d. 24 Sep 1843 - 1 Nov 1922, 
 interred in Mt. Horeb Church Cemetery, 
 "The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), obit dated 17 Nov 1922, p. 7] 

[file transcribed by Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
 and re-formatted by File Manager.]