Author: Ruth Olson

Dr. Walter Grady Bishop, Jr., 76, resident of Thomson Circle, passed away June 20, 2013, in the Hospice House in Greenwood, S.C. Born in Greenwood, S.C., Feb. 17, 1937, he was a son of the late Dr. Walter Grady Bishop and Martha Thurmond Bishop.

Dr. Bishop was a graduate of Greenwood High School, Davidson College, and the University of Pennsylvania Medical College. He completed his internship at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta, Ga., and his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. After serving a two-year tour of duty for the United States Army at Fort Jackson, S.C., he practiced medicine in Greenwood, Laurens and Abbeville Counties for 42 years.

He is survived by: his wife Ann Shield Bishop, three sons and daughters-in-law, John T. Bishop (Ruthie) of Irmo, S.C., Whitner S. Bishop (Alison) of Spartanburg, S.C., and William H. Bishop (Ronni) of Charlotte, N.C.; four grandchildren, Eliza, Henry and Martha of Spartanburg, S.C., and Reed of Charlotte, N.C.; three brothers, Thurmond Bishop (Lucia) of Abbeville, S.C., James of Atlanta, Georgia and Barry (Cindy) of Greenville, S.C.

The family expresses its appreciation to his doctors, the staff at The Greenwood Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, and for the unfailing graciousness of The Hospice House.

It is our request that anyone wishing to honor the life of Dr. Bishop can do so by a donation to Hospice of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Ave. Greenwood, SC 29646.

A Celebration of Dr. Bishop’s life will be conducted Saturday July 6, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at Abbeville Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Carol Strickland officiating. 

Clay died suddenly and before his time on July 17, 2011, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla., after courageously fighting Leukemia for the past year.

Born July 8, 1964, to Kenneth E. and Donna Carroll, Clay graduated with honors from Choctawhatchee High School in 1982 and Davidson in 1986 with a degree in psychology. Clay received a master’s degree in psychology at FSU in 1990. He attended law school at Southwestern University in California and spent a summer studying law at Oxford in England. He worked at a psychiatric hospital in California. In Florida he worked for Children and Families as a Family Builders Therapist, and as a behavior Modification Counselor with developmentally disabled adults. He also worked for the Council for Aging in Okaloosa County.

He loved being one with nature, starting backpacking at a very young age and enjoying the ocean all of his life. He was an avid athlete who never passed up a chance to work out, be it running, biking, snow skiing or lifting weights. He also enjoyed wrestling on both his high school and college teams. Clay will be greatly missed.

Clay now joins God’s heavenly embrace with his paternal grandparents, Kenneth and Gladys Carroll; his maternal grandparents, Charles and Anne McAllister; and his father, Kenneth E. Carroll Jr. He is survived by his mother, Donna Harper, stepfather, Joseph M. Harper Jr., son, Cole McCormick, sister, Allison Fierro, nephews, Dominick and Luke Fierro, his lifelong friend, Ruth Weems, and cousin, Karen Dopson and son, Kevan.

Clay was very committed to the work of “Stella’s Voice.” In lieu of flowers, donations to Destin United Methodist Church for Stella’s Voice are welcome. This is an organization that rescues teenage orphans who have been forced into the sex trade.

A celebration of Clay’s life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 11 a.m. at Destin United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Drive, Destin, Fla., with a reception following.

Bernie peacefully passed away Jan. 29, 2010, in Oneonta, Ala. Born in Waycross, Ga., on Nov. 13, 1928, he lived a full and gregarious life. In the 1940s, while attending the University of Georgia, he traveled as a trombone player and recorded with the Big Bands of Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Count Basie and Buddy Rich. He eventually received his degree in Commercial Art. After college he proudly served his country as a USAF fighter pilot during the Korean War, where he earned several Medals of Honor for his service. In 1955, he moved to Mountain Brook, Ala., to raise his family. As an ad executive for the Tom Williamson Agency, he found himself in full charge of GM’s print and television advertising during the 1960s and 1970s. He also was a founding member of the UAB SuperJazz, one of the first performing musical jazz ensembles in Birmingham, Ala. The 1980s brought him to Destin, where he was a professor of art and music at OWJC. Bernie’s next adventure found him living on Mangrove Cay, Andros, Bahamas, during the 1990s where he spent his days bone fishing, painting and illustrating on “island time.” In 2001, he chose to relocate one last time to Oneonta to fish the beautiful lakes, continue his creativity in the mountains, and spend time with his family.

Survivors include his son, Andrew (Marcelle) Bell of Destin and daughter Jennifer Robbins of Oneonta; grandchildren Aja Bell (Destin), Tyler Byrd (Birmingham) and Parker Byrd (Oneonta); great-grandchildren Brendon Byrd, Carter Byrd and Maddox Byrd (all in Oneonta).

A celebration of Bernie’s life will take place at 11 a.m. Feb. 22, 2010, at Saint Stephens Episcopal Church in Birmingham. 

Horace Eugene Gray, Jr. ‘Gene’
Mr. Gray died of a massive heart attack on April 21, 2005, at Mission St. Joseph Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. He had been spending time at Lake Junaluska where he was a summer resident for 34 years.
Mr. Gray was born on March 10, 1933, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was the son of the late Horace E. Gray, Sr. and Marion Connor Gray. Mr. Gray grew up on Cottage Place and attended local schools before graduating from Davidson College in 1955. He was his class representative at Davidson for over a decade and was currently part of the steering committee planning his upcoming 50 year reunion. He was the retired owner and president of Charlotte Battery Company, Inc.
Mr. Gray was a long-time member of Myers Park United Methodist Church where he was currently serving on the Finance Committee and a member of the Wesley Sunday School class. He was also a long time member of Olde Providence Racquet Club where he concentrated on his favorite hobbies, tennis and photography.
Mr. Gray is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Frances McCracken Gray. He is also survived by his three daughters, Mary Mac Gray Yon and her husband, Crandell Yon, Annie Gray, and Sally Gray Smith and her husband, Eric Smith, and his two grandsons, Griffin and Gray Smith, all of Charlotte.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, 2005, at Myers Park United Methodist Church with Dr. James C. Howell and Bishop Thomas B. Stockton officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in Jubilee Hall.
Memorials may be made to Myers Park United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 6161, Charlotte, NC 28207, for flood relief in the western North Carolina mountains and the minister’s discretionary fund.
Harry & Bryant Company is serving the family of Mr. Gray.