Chief Apostle Hattie B. Bishop died Friday, March 20, at her home in Atmore.

Bishop was born on August 27, 1949, to the late Rev. Lee Bonnie and Esterlene Knight-Williams Sr. She was a 1966 graduate of Escambia County Training School. After graduating she pursued a higher education at UTI Training School in St. Louis, Mo., and graduated.

Apostle Hattie Bishop began her thirst for more wisdom and knowledge of God’s word and sought and achieved a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate of divinity degree in theology from the E.L. White Theological Seminary in Mobile.

Chief Apostle Hattie B. Bishop was a strong woman of faith and a redeemed believer in Christ. She received the baptism of the Holy Spirit under the leadership of her spiritual father, Bishop W.C. Howard in 1977 at the Church of God Temple of Deliverance in Freemanville. After laboring in the gospel vineyard, God gave her a vision to build a kingdom of deliverance for the sheep of his pasture.

As she obeyed and followed the vision God had given to her, proclaiming the word of truth, she answered the call to ministry in 1982. After longsuffering and obeying the will of the Lord, he granted her the strength in 1994 to begin her journey as pastor.

Whereas she established Deliverance Ministry of Jesus Christ #1 in the city of Atmore, with God’s promise to add to the church daily and such should be saved she answered the call to Apostleship in 1997.

At this time, she began to establish ministries along the Alabama-Florida region. In 2001, she established Deliverance Ministry #2 in Pensacola, Fla., where Prophet Jamel Moore currently serves as pastor. In 2006, she established her third ministry, Deliverance Ministry of Jesus Christ #3 in Bay Minette, where Apostle Derrick Bishop currently serves as pastor.

Pastor Kelvin Williams serves as reigning pastor of Deliverance Ministry of Jesus Christ #1 and Bishop Dr. Bernard Bishop was appointed as District Bishop for the Deliverance Ministry of Jesus Christ, Inc.

Chief Apostle Dr. Hattie B. Bishop met the love of her life, Deacon Louis Bishop Jr. and remained in love until his demise. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five siblings, Luerensley Williams, Henry Williams, Geraldine Black, Lee Bonnie Williams, II, and Josephine Jackson; one brother in law, Blanchard Lee Black; and one grandson, Kelvin Terrell Norman.

Those who remain to cherish her legacy and remember her in their hearts include three loving, devoted and caring sons, Pastor Kelvin (First Lady Tonja) Williams of Freemanville, Apostle (First Lady Twana) Bishop of Bay Minette, Alabama and Dr. Bernard (Dr. Felicia) Bishop of Atmore; one daughter, Pastor Audrey (Reverend Ewing) Mayberry; one step-son, John Earl Anderson of Atmore; two sisters, Evangelist Florastine (Bishop W.C.) Howard of Freemanville and Missionary Lula Williams of Pensacola; two devoted grandchildren: Derrica Bishop of Bay Minette, and Joshua Hill of Atmore; 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; one aunt, Para Lee Hudson of Mobile; two sisters-in-law, Olivette Williams and Daisy Mae Williams, both of Freemanville; a very devoted and faithful friend, Linden “Duck” Simpson of Atmore, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Public visitations will be held on Friday, March 27, from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. from the sanctuary of Deliverance Ministry of Jesus Christ #1 in Atmore. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 28, at 1 p.m., from the Escambia County High School, 1215 Presley St., in Atmore. Prophet Jamel Moore will be presiding and there will be eulogistic accolades by her three sons, Pastor Kelvin Williams, Apostle Derrick Bishop and Dr. Bernard Bishop.

Mayberry Funeral Home, LLC, is directing.