Obituary of Buford Bishop

Obituary Notice Funeral services for Buford Bishop, age 83 of Wedowee will be held Saturday July 31, 2010 at 1:00 PM at Noonday Christian Church with the Rev. Harold Bonner and Rev. Zenus Windsor officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery. Mr. Bishop passed away Thursday July 29, 2010 at Wedowee Hospital. Mr. Bishop is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nelda Walker Bishop of Wedowee, two daughters, Beth ( Clifford) Denney of Hogansville, Ga., and Jennifer ( Kent) Grogan of Camilla, Ga., one son David ( Mary) Bishop of Helena, a brother-in-law and his wife, George and Barbara Ann Walker of Huntsville, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Rick Bailey, Zach Bishop, Wayne Cotney, Chris Denney, Hayes Grogan, Richard Lucas, Brandon Wallace and Daniel Wallace. Honorary pallbearers will be active and retired Randolph County law enforcement officers and Alabama State Troopers. Special honorary pallbearers will be Rusty Arrington and Howard Welch, Bobby Stewart, Mr. Bishop's longtime trooper partner. Mr. Bishop was born June 8, 1927 the son of Herbert Benjamin and Izora Willoughby Bishop, he graduated from Wadley High School in 1945, he was a veteran of World War II having served in the United States Army, he was a member of Mountain Springs Baptist Church, he married his high school sweetheart on July 29, 1951, they were married 59 years, he attended Southern Union College and Auburn University. He served over 30 years as a law enforcement officer at Bowden, Ga. and Wedowee, Randolph County Sheriff's Office. He retired as a Alabama State Trooper, and served as police chief in Wadley and Roanoke. Mr. Bishop was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Charline Bishop Cotney and his father and mother in law Roy and Iola Walker. The family will receive flowers or donations may be made to Wedowee Hospital, P.O. Box 307, Wedowee, Al. 36278 or Noonday Christian Church, c/o Charlotte Strain, 6478 County Road 67, Wedowee, Al. 36278. The family will receive friends at Benefield Funeral Home in Wedowee on Friday July 30, 2010 from 5 till 8 PM. He will lie in state at the church one hour prior to services. Benefield Funeral Home of Wedowee in charge of the arrangements. Leave online condolences at www.benefieldfhwedowee.com