Jessie Marie “Cita” Brewton Bishop, age 95, died peacefully at Maxland, her home in Ailey, Georgia on Sunday, September 18, 2016.
Jessie Marie was born September 4, 1921 in Vidalia, Georgia, a daughter of John Broadus Brewton and Ala Peterson Brewton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ambassador Max Waldo Schmidt Bishop. Jessie Marie was a 1938 graduate of Vidalia High School and a 1942 graduate of Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville. She served in the Navy as a WAVE Communications Officer in World War II. She met her husband in Japan where he was serving as State Department Representative to General MacArthur after the war. They were married on July 13, 1946 at the Base Chapel in Yokohama, Japan. Her husband’s career with the State Department took them to many international destinations, including Saudi Arabia, and culminated in his appointment as Ambassador to Thailand under President Eisenhower in 1955. After his retirement as Executive Director of the World Affairs Council in Pittsburgh, PA in 1973 they moved to Ailey. She was a gracious hostess and enjoyed the company of friends and family. She especially loved arranging fresh flowers from her garden for her home. She was a member of the Ailey United Methodist Church, the American Foreign Service Association and DACOR House.
She is survived by her four children: Cecelia Marie Bishop of Oakland, Calif., Ala Joan (& Adrian) Jones of Tyrone, Ga., Nancy Caroline (& Bruce) Dutcher of Atlanta, Ga. and Max Brewton Bishop of Ailey. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many neices, nephews and cousins.
The family gratefully acknowledges the loving care she received from Elizabeth Cummings, Carolyn Snead, Melissa Nelms, Tye Ronnie Glasper and Mary Gasser.
There will be a visitation at her home Friday, September 23 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Graveside service and interment will take place at the Peterson Cemetery in Ailey on Saturday, September 24 at 11 a.m.
The family will receive visitors at her home after the service.
Memorial donations may be made to the Peterson Cemetery Fund c/o Tom Peterson, P.O. Box 7, Ailey, Ga. 30410.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15
Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.
