T. Victor Bishop

FULTON – Thomas Victor Bishop, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, was born on October 12, 1935, and received his final healing on December 20, 2024. Known by his friends, family, and townspeople as “Vic,” he practiced law in Fulton for 60 years, opening his practice with Hollis Brown in Fulton in June of 1964 after graduating first from Mississippi State University in 1961, and then with his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi Law School in May 1964.

Before he became an admired fixture in Fulton, Vic graduated high school in Birmingham, AL. He then entered the U.S. Army, serving his country in the 82nd Airborne Division. He later played baseball and football at Wake Forest University and Itawamba Community College, and coached little league baseball while a student at the college.

Professionally, Vic was a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Mississippi State Bar, American Bar Association, and the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Personally, Vic was a very quiet man who sought no accolades, preferring to work in his own silent way, providing advice and counsel to better the lives of his clients. He was also a very learned man who loved to read and study. He was firm, resolute, and resourceful with his clients and a devoted family man at home. Vic was a trustee, deacon, and moderator at First Baptist Church of Fulton, where he taught Sunday school for 30 years. Currently, Hilda and Vic are members of Itawamba Christian Church. His deep faith guided him in all his dealings in his professional and personal life.

He adored his bride, Hilda Holcomb, whom he married on August 14, 1960. Throughout their 67 years together, they shared a love of many things but perhaps nothing as much as they loved traveling together “Out West,” even considering buying property in Montana. Vic’s favorite place was Monument Valley, and he and Hilda visited there several times over the years. He collected many pictures and books on the history and majesty of the American West.

Vic and Hilda created a beautiful family together: one boy and two girls, and he was known as the beloved “Tom-Tom” to his five grandchildren. He is survived by Hilda and their son, Chris Bishop (Saundra); their daughters, Merrie Lynn Wright (Skip) and Ann Marie Bishop; his grandchildren, Victor Brian Bishop (Lindsey), Aubrey Reed Bishop, Jarod William Wright, Audrey Elizabeth Wright, Merrie Caroline Wright Erickson; and one great-granddaughter, Adeline James Bishop.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Tommy Lee Bishop and Lula Mae Adkins Bishop; one brother, Dale Bishop; and one sister, Jackie Bishop Davis.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, December 23, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Dr. Kenny Digby and the Rev. Tony Thornton officiating. Burial will be in Itawamba Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, December 22, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home in Fulton.

Pallbearers will be Victor Brian Bishop, Aubrey Reed Bishop, Jarod Wright, Bobby Beard, Martin Davis, Kevin Nolan, James Holland, Van Wallace, and Logan Erickson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Chilcoat, J.W. Beasley, Don McNeece, Sandy Parker, Sheila Mattox, Mark Brown, and James Campbell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.