Doreatha Gillis-Bishop, sympathy

2025-2026 Bill 5152: Doreatha Gillis-Bishop, sympathy - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5152
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Hosey, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Howard, Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G.M. Smith, M.M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
Document Path: LC-0435VR-RM26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 11, 2026
Adopted by the House on February 11, 2026
Summary: Doreatha Gillis-Bishop, sympathy
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/11/2026

House

Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 39
)

View the latest
legislative information
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VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/11/2026

A
house
RESOLUTION

TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THE LIFE OF DOREATHA
GILLIS-BISHOP AND TO EXPRESS THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH
CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS UPON HER
PASSING.

W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina House of Representatives learned with deep sorrow of the
passing of Doreatha Gillis-Bishop on January 25, 2026, at the venerable age of
one hundred eleven; and

W
hereas, born the
daughter of Daniel Alexander Gillis and Lucy Ellen Davis Gillis, Doreatha
Gillis-Bishop came into this world on December 20, 1914, in Aiken County's Old
Ellenton. Blessed to be part of a large family, her siblings were Mary and
Martha (twins), Beatrice, Florence, Lelia Mae, Fred, Murray, Joseph, and Willie
Lee; and

W
hereas, the young
Doreatha began her formal education at Great Cypress Church School and
furthered it at Butler School in Barnwell. At an early age, she was converted
and baptized and became a member of Great Cypress Missionary Baptist Church,
where she sang in the Senior Choir. Ultimately, she became the oldest member
and Mother of the Church; and

W
hereas, on December 5,
1936, Doreatha was united in marriage to Blake Bishop Sr., and over the years
the two welcomed into the family eight children: Richard, William Henry, Annie
Mae, Blake Jr., Willie Lee, Willie Mae, Maryann, and, sadly, a stillborn baby
girl; and

W
hereas, in addition to
serving her church, Doreatha served her community as the oldest member of the
St. John Benevolent Society and Pride of Barnwell OES #77 in Barnwell. She also
was honored and given a plaque on February 4, 2023, as the oldest living member
of District 10, Order of the Eastern Star PHA; and

W
hereas, she further
served at the Barnwell County Nursing Home for many years as a nurse assistant;
and

W
hereas, having such a
sweet, beautiful spirit, she was loved by everyone who knew her. She was the
matriarch of Turner Street, and the honorable name "Mother" was placed on her
by all, especially the children of Turner Street, where she resided for years. Her
affection for the children showed in her everyday life when she would let them
gather in her home to keep them out of the elements. She fed them toast and
jelly while they waited at the school bus stop on Reynolds Road; and

W
hereas, Doreatha loved
canning her vegetables, making lye soap, sewing quilts, and working in her
flower garden, and she loved her cats. She also relished having her children
around her. Because the family grew so large, there were numerous reunions,
birthday parties, and celebrations of all kinds that gifted the entire family
with many precious memories. Doreatha dressed in blue for many of these events
because blue was her favorite color; and

W
hereas, Doreatha
Gillis-Bishop leaves to cherish her memory four children, William Henry Bishop,
Annie Mae Fluitt, Willie Lee Bishop, and Maryann Frank; nineteen grandchildren;
twenty-two great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and a host of
other dear family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved
husband, Blake Bishop Sr.; sons Blake Bishop Jr. and Richard Bishop; and
daughter Willie Mae Sellars. Greatly loved, she will be greatly missed. Now,
therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
House of Representatives
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
House of Representatives
,
by this resolution, remember and honor the life of Doreatha Gillis-Bishop and
express their deepest sympathy to her family and many friends upon her passing.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on February 11, 2026 at 1:33 PM