Gladys Bishop Burns
October 13, 1933 ~ January 15, 2017
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Gladys Bishop Burns, 83, of Arden, passed away peacefully at her residence on Sunday, January 15, 2017.
A native of Henderson County, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Charlotte Revis Bishop. She was also preceded in death one sister Levhon Garren; one brother, Lloyd Bishop and sister-in-law, Frances Bishop.
Gladys served as a bookkeeper for the Henderson County Board of Education for 27 years and went on to work at Blue Ridge Community College before her retirement. She was a member of Fletcher First Baptist Church and enjoyed singing Southern Gospel music, flowers, birds, photography and spending time with her family. She was a wonderful cook and will be forever cherished as a loving aunt, great aunt, sister and friend.
She is survived by special friend, Eddie Taylor; one brother, Larry Bishop (Mary Lou); two nieces, Audrey Johnson (Gary) and Diane Stepp (Donnie); three nephews, Jerry Bishop (Missy), Wayne Bishop (Sheila) and Jamie Bishop (Audrey), as well as several great-nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, January 18 at Fletcher First Baptist Church with Reverends Roy Waldroup and Craig Stepp officiating. Interment will follow at Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery in Saluda. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 on Wednesday at the church.
One of Gladys' favorite Bible verses was Romans 8:38-39 " 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.
Prayers for all the family. God be with all of you during this time of grief.
I will miss my wonderful neighbor and friend, Gladys. Watching her working with her flowers, caring for the yard, birds and taking the time to chat with me. looking out for my cat, Maisie when I would go out of town. She was so caring and giving. I have many plants in my yard Gladys gave me over the years. I always admired her beautiful year. I will miss her dearly. RIP Gladys
I worked with Gladys at Blue Ridge Technical College back in the 80’s and I’ll have to say she was the sweetest person to me. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.
Gladys was my brother Ed’s sweet lady. She touched our family’s lives deeply, and touched countless others. If there was ever an angel on earth, it was Gladys. We had a family quartet when Lowell was still with us…they are singing the songs of Zion today and Gladys has gardens to check out, we cannot comprehend the beauty! Knowing that our loved ones are with God and God is with us, they cannot be far away. We will see you again, dear Gladys, in that Home where there is no more sickness and sorrow.
Prayers for God’s comfort for Gladys’ family and friends. It was a pleasure to study God’s Word with her at the Dorcas Sunday School Class, and ‘Selah’, a Bible Study of the Psalms with Esther Walker at Fletcher First Baptist Church. Gladys encouraged many, and she will surely be missed. I’m thankful God made a way to see our loved ones again.
To one I of the sweetest women I new. I enjoied seeing her from time to time at church and love her family expecially her brother and his family.
Dearest Diane…..Jerry and I are so sorry to hear of your Aunt’s passing. We hope you will have peace knowing you will see her again some day. Our love to you and your family.
Larry, Diane so sorry about the death of Gladys. She was loved by so many. Albert thought so much of her. She will be missed by all who knew her. Prayers for all of you.
Prayers to all the family. Gladys was such a sweet person and I enjoyed working with her at Blue Ridge Community College.
Always an example of a wonderful Christian lady. I was truly blessed to have known her. My condolences to the family.
Blessed to have known this sweet lady. Sympathy to the family and loved ones.
Audrey and Family,
Our deepest sympathies to you in regards to your aunt’s passing. May God grant you all peace during this difficult time. You are loved!
Harold Garren
Chris, Lynn and Courtney Lance
One of the sweetest ladies I have ever met, have missed her at the college. Rest in Peace Ms. Gladys.
Sweet Gladys. What a friend she was to all. Heaven has gained a beautiful lady. To Eddie and the family our prayers are with you. im glad i was able to worship with her and loved having her in the Dorcas class at Fletcher First Baptist. i also worshiped with her at Skyland Baptist .We sang many songs together at Skyland. she had a beautiful voice and loved gospel music. ‘Swing Wide the Gates, Im coming home.’ well sweet Gladys, You are Home..
Gladys was a much loved adopted member of our family for over 40 years. Always with a quick sweet smile, she maintained her grace, loving nature, and quiet strength right to the end. Her long battle with cancer is over, and she’s at peace with our Lord on the other side. I’m sure Mom was there to greet her, along with her parents, sister, and so many of her other Gospel Singing Friends.
Gladys took my place in the family trio when I left home in 1974. She was the Secretary of the Labor Day Gospel Music Festival for 40 years, and during Dads MAJOR illness in 2000, she and Georgia Rhodes who was working at the bank at the time worked together to get Dads monthly bills paid when he was on life support and then in a coma. She was a tiny thing, but a spiritual ROCK! She kept things running smoothly until I could get up there after I had major surgery during that same time. This world has lost a loving, graceful, generous, caring spiritual soul that made every day a bit brighter (and a little bit classier).
Our love and gratitude to Eddie Taylor for all he was to Gladys, and how he took care of her. 24/7/365. I’ve never seen such caring, love and devotion. They were both so blessed to be a part of each others lives. Every minute was filled with being with Gladys, and we hope he finds the peace he needs during this heartbreaking time, knowing that she is no longer in pain and suffering. They will be together again one day.
Like the song Dad wrote, in a tribute to Gladys around 17 years ago, ‘Nothing Can Separate Us’.
Audrey and family, Eddie and I are so sorry for the death of your aunt. May God be with you during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Debbie and Eddie Banther
From the beginning of my employment as part of the Blue Ridge Community College family, dear Gladys was so kind and supportive. In addition to being very professional, she was always very caring and compassionate. It was a real joy when our paths would cross at the College, and a pleasure to call Gladys a colleague and friend.
Had the opportunity to work with Gladys at the Henderson County Schools from 1975-1979. Such a dear friend and such a special lady. Sympathy to the family.