Esther Ann Whitener Bishop, age 88 of Cleveland, TN passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at the Life Care Center of Copper Basin in Ducktown, TN. She was born on July 13, 1934 in Farner, TN to the late Roy Hemming and Myrtle Jones Hemming. Esther retired from Charleston Hosiery in the ordering department. She was baptized in 1950 and member of New Zion Baptist Church. Esther liked being outdoors, watching the Wheel of Fortune, rodeos, going to Disney, setting in the swing watching the ocean. She loved spending time with her children, brothers and was a mother figure to many children in the neighborhood. Esther was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, William Whitener and Billy Bishop; children, Donna Gail Whitener and William Larry Whitener and brothers, Don Hemming, Elmer Hemming, Jay Hemming, Arnold Hemming and James Hemming and infant Frankie Hemming.

Survivors are her daughter Sherry Whitener of Cleveland, TN; stepchildren, Cindy Park (Nathan) of Benton, TN and Jeff (Patti) Bishop of Dixon, MO; brother, Harold (Loretta) Hemming of Coker Creek, TN; nieces that thought of her as a second mother, Laura Ann Hemming, Kelly Hemming Elsea and Nicole Hemming; other nieces and nephews; cousins; relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. from the New Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Nolan Phillips and Rev. Timmy Joe Hemming officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Josh Elsea, Terry Henry, Timmy Joe Hemming, Jimmy Hemming, Jed Hemming and Johnny Hunter. Honorary Pallbearers will be Paul Hemming and Wayne Poole. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinscobb.com. Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations of Copperhill, TN is in charge of the arrangements.