William “Bill” Fletcher Bishop Jr., 77, of Leesville, a former staff member with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, died April 30, 2014.

He graduated from Chester High School, North Greenville Junior College and Furman University. He received a master of divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and an honorary doctorate from Charleston Southern University.

Bishop served as pastor of Parkway Baptist Church in Chester and as associate pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Columbia and Kingstree First Baptist. He also served as executive director of missions for Charleston Baptist Association.

In 1977, he joined the General Board staff of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. He held the positions of director of the Teaching, Training and Ministries department; director of the Church Development division; and director of the Denomination Relations department.

After retiring in 1998 and until 2012, he served as contract consultant for the state convention and as interim pastor at a number of churches. He was cofounder and president of the South Carolina Autism Society.

Survivors include his wife, Annie Belle (Ann) Sanders Bishop, and a son.