SUFFOLK — Wayland Jeter “W.J.” Bishop Jr., 73, passed away on Jan. 4, 2016, at his home.

He was a native of the Handsom area of Southampton County, and was a son of the late Wayland Jeter Bishop Sr. and Mary Francis Bishop.

He was former owner and operator of Bishop’s General Repair, and was a member of Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church and attended Radiant Life Ministries.

He was an honorary member of the Delaware Hunt Club.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 21 years, Betty Gray Bishop; three daughters, Sharon Lee (David), Gwyn Drake (Glen) and Wanda Bishop; three sons, Chris Bishop, Charles E. Howerton (Robin) and Larry Howerton (Barbara); one brother, John M. Bishop Sr. (Martha), 12 grandchildren, Angel, Matt, Jeremy, Scott, Francis, Andrew, Becky, Elizabeth, Thomas, Ethan, Josh and Jillian; and five great-grandchildren, Jayden, Bryan, Morgan, Colton and Jacob.

W.J. was predeceased by two children, Charles Owen Howerton Jr. and Trena Starr Howerton.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, in Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, with the Rev. Don Milner officiating. Burial will be private.

The family will receive friends in the funeral home on Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and suggests that memorial donations be made to Radiant Life Ministries, 100 Kilby Shores Dr., Suffolk, VA 23434, or a favorite charity.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org.