Rita Mai Bishop

Rita Mai Bishop passed peacefully at the Hearth of Franklin on March 21, 2021. She was born April 30, 1927 on Yellow Creek in Dickson County and was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Lutie Nesbitt Bishop, and her grandparents, Jerry and Minerva Dickson Nesbitt and David and Nancy Turner Bishop. She was also preceded in death in 2016 by her brother Ray Bishop whom she loved very much and special cousin Jean Matlock in February of this year. She is survived by Jean’s son Mark (Vicki) Matlock and numerous other cousins. Rita attended Wesley Chapel School and graduated from Dickson Central High School. In 1945 she moved to Nashville with her best friend Sarah Patey. They lived with other young ladies at the Girls’ Home and attended Draughn’s Business College. Rita began working at the United Methodist Publishing House in 1946, retiring from there in 1989. While there she made many lifelong friends. She was a member of Wesley Chapel UMC on Yellow Creek which later merged with Edgewood UMC. When home in Nashville she attended Belmont UMC. While she spent over half her life living and working in Nashville, Rita always considered Yellow Creek her home. She kept the road hot between Green Hills and Yellow Creek, visiting often with her parents, brother, and other beloved friends and family in that community. When Rita was in Nashville, she enjoyed many of the things the city had to offer. She attended many performances at the Barn Dinner Theater, the Circle Theater, the symphony, and TPAC with her friends. She also really enjoyed visiting Cheekwood. Rita loved to travel and made many trips with others. She visited 49 states, just missing Oregon, and travelled throughout North America and Europe, visiting 13 different countries. In 2016 after a small stroke Rita moved from Green Hills to the Hearth at Franklin assisted living. Despite the enormity of this change she adapted very well and continued to make new friends. Her transition was eased by the presence of her lifelong friends Polly and Gene Thompson who also lived there. Rita wishes to thank their daughter, Lisa, for her loving care along with Patti and Ron Robertson, Betty Lecomte, and Rita Wilson—all frequent visitors to the Hearth. Rita was a kind, generous friend who was loved by many and will be greatly missed by all. Memorials may be made to Alive Hospice or the charity of your choice. Visitation with the family will be at Dickson Funeral Home on Thursday, March 25, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.; and will resume on Friday, March 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. Funeral services will be at the Chapel of Dickson Funeral Home on Friday, March 26, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.; Pastor Carol Miller and Ron Robertson officiating; with a burial to follow to Adams Nesbitt Cemetery. Arrangements by Dickson Funeral Home & Cremation Center Online condolences may be left at www.dicksonfuneralhome.com