Malcolm Ray Bishop

Services for Malcolm Ray Bishop, 79, of Tallulah, LA will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Tallulah, LA with Mr. Johnny Wilkins officiating. Afterwards, a graveside service will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tallulah, LA.

Mr. Bishop died on Friday, July 12, 2019 following a brief bout with cancer.

Malcolm was born on November 26, 1939 in Vicksburg, MS. His parents were the late Mr. and Mrs. Twiggs Arleigh Bishop (nee Verna Mae Goss). He was the oldest child of two boys. Raised in Tallulah, he was a member of the Class of 1959 at Tallulah High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agri-Business at Northeast College in Monroe, LA (now ULM) in 1965. For over fifty years, Malcolm was a salesman in northeast Louisiana. After retirement, he founded and owned M & S Sales in Tallulah.

He married the love of his life, Sandra Jean Gryder Bishop formerly of Rayville, LA, on February 24, 1962. They were blessed with three children: Gregory Wade Bishop, Amanda Kaye Bishop Massey and Mary Beth Bishop Dickerson. He was known as Papa to his seven beloved grandchildren.

Mr. Bishop was an avid sportsman who loved to deer, duck and dove hunt. Hunting season was a sacred tradition in Malcolm’s family. The most cherished memories that his son and sons-in-law will have are those hunting with their “Dad”. While hunting at Crescent, his trademark texts to his boys were “Where r u? What u c?” His passion for hunting led him to be a member of the National Rifle Association and Ducks Unlimited where he served as chapter president for both organizations. He was elected president of the Madison Parish Jaycees in Tallulah. His love for motorcycles was known to all, and he was a proud member of the Mississippi Chapter E of the Gold Wing Riders Association where he also served as a chapter president. Malcolm and Sandra rode motorcycles throughout the south, and one of their joys was attending NASCAR races. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Tallulah. Lake Bruin was his “Happy Place”, and he loved to water ski, cruise on the float boat, fish and spend time with his children and grandchildren at Camp BB.

He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He never met a stranger and loved people! Malcolm’s legacy is his wife, children and grandchildren who he loved with every breath. His absence from our lives is made easier knowing he is present with his Lord.

Preceded in death: parents: Mr. and Mrs. Twiggs Arleigh Bishop; brother: Thomas Wayne Bishop, father and mother-in-law: Mr. and Mrs. Robie Elmer Hugh Gryder; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law: Mary Sue Gryder Jordan; Major Robert Joe Gryder and his wife, Ann Spencer Gryder.

Survivors include his devoted wife: Sandra Jean Gryder Bishop; children: Gregory Wade Bishop and his wife, Brenda Sue Jones Bishop of Boyle, MS, Amanda Kaye Bishop Massey and her husband, Donald Cole Massey of Mandeville, LA and Mary Beth Bishop Dickerson and her husband, Michael Lynn Dickerson of Monroe, LA; Grandchildren: Johnathan Brooks O’Keefe Bishop and his fiancée, Hannah Leigh Smith, Joshua Wade Bishop, Mary Carlisle Christabella Massey, Alexandra Massey Verdin and her husband, Derrick Joseph Verdin, Michael Ray Dickerson and his wife, Yasmeen Ali Dickerson, Mary Amanda Grace Dickerson and Madison Virginia Mae Dickerson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Carolyn (Tinker) Yerger Bishop, Dale Douglas Gryder and his wife, Sally O’Rear Gryder, and Francis Victor Jordan II; and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are: Boudah Evans, Darren Green, Dennis Grissom, John Hopkins, Doug Norman, Bobby Reynolds, Charles Roberson and Shannon Shivers.

Honorary Pallbearers are: Dick Brown, Gene Cox, Freddy Gaumnitz, Louis Grady, Felix Johnson, Walter Scott, Chip Sullivan and Bart Wood.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Tallulah, LA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. 

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