Willie Mae

Bishop Rooks

Obituary

Willie Mae Bishop Rooks, 101, of Tifton died Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at Tift Health Care. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2007, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton's First Baptist Church. Dr. W. Ches Smith, III and Rev. Paul Thomas will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 27, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.

Mrs. Rooks was born on October 11, 1905 in Tift County and was the daughter of William Bishop and Jeanie Arnold Bishop, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, John Millard Rooks, and seven brothers. She taught school for 15 years and retired from the Department of Family and Children's Services after 25 years. She was a member of Tifton's First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for 50 years. She graduated from South Georgia A & M (now Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College) in 1927.

Mrs. Rooks is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Judy Rooks of Jacksonville, Florida, and Wilton and Diane Rooks of Gainesville; one daughter and son-in-law, Betty Sue and Frank Giles of Unadilla; one brother, Clennon Bishop of Tifton; one sister, Ilene Tidwell of Tifton; 10 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; and 1 great great grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Tiftarea or Tifton's First Baptist Church.