Individual Details

Death

Martha Myra Johnson Bishop Furr, a mother, a homemaker, and owner and president of Baker Printing Company, passed away peacefully at her home in Baker, La., on Thursday, July 30, 2026. She was 89 years old. Born February 1, 1937, in Edinburg, Miss., Martha was the daughter of Elsie Kate Mooney Johnson and Arthur D. Johnson. In 1953, she married Jack Andrew Bishop, with whom she had 6 children – 4 sons and twin daughters. The couple opened Baker Printing Co. in 1962, and upon Jack Bishop's passing in 1983, Martha continued to run the business, which is still in operation to this day. In 1992, Martha then married Albert Furr, who passed away in 2014. Martha's life was a testament to the importance of unwavering faith, quiet strength, and extraordinary determination. During a time when female business owners were a rarity, she played an integral role in the day-to-day operations of the business that she and her husband had built, one that her family continues to run to this day. Her greatest legacy, however, was the Christian faith she steadily lived and instilled in her family for generations to come. Martha's devout Christian beliefs profoundly influenced and guided every facet of her life. Martha is survived by her sons, John Andrew Bishop (Dawn) of Clinton, La., Richard Dean Bishop (Karen) of Zachary, La., Timothy Paul Bishop (Debbie) of Saratoga, Wyo., and Spencer Jay Bishop (LuAnn) of Clinton, La.; her daughters, Martha Bishop Kwasny (John) of Brandon, Miss., and Myra Bishop Penn (William "Michael") of Lena, Miss.; one stepdaughter, Lana Furr Griffin (Cary) of Baker, La.; three stepsons, Douglas Furr (Betty) of Baton Rouge, La., Tommy Furr (Susan) of Baton Rouge, La., and Roger Furr of Baker, La.; 55 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren, and 5 great- great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Johnson; mother, Elsie Kate Mooney Johnson; sisters, Ella Johnson and Nell Johnson Grant; brother, Lee Johnson, Sr.; husband, Jack Andrew Bishop; husband, A.T. Furr; daughter-in-law, Robbie West Bishop; grandson, Trenton Paul Bishop; granddaughter, Nichole Laureme Penn; and great-grandson, Ruston Dwayne Bishop. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Faith Baptist Church at 15880 Plank Road in Baker, La., from 9 a.m. until the service at noon. Burial will immediately follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 6213 Groom Road, Baker, La. 70714. Pallbearers will be John Charles Kwasny, William Michael Penn, Spencer Vance Bishop, Bennett Earl Bishop, Rusty Dean Bishop, and Byram Hall Bishop. Honorary pallbearers will be John Eddie Grant, Jr., Noel Stiles, John Andrew Bishop, II, and Jerrel Douglas Day, and Roger Furr. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Quiet Waters Ministries, P.O Box 2247, Madison, MS 39130, or at quietwaters-ms.org.