Arvetia Bishop‑Leech, 59, passed away on January 21, 2026, at Gulfport Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi. She was born June 3, 1966, in Columbus, Mississippi, to Robert Bishop and Dorothy Louise Bishop.

Arvetia grew up in Columbus and was a proud graduate of Caldwell High School, where she was an enthusiastic member of the school band. Her parents, Robert and Dorothy Louise Bishop, instilled in her a love of family and music that remained a guiding force throughout her life.

After high school Arvetia lived for several years in Sierra Vista, Arizona, before returning toMississippi. She made Gulfport her home for many years, though after Hurricane Katrina she temporarily returned to Columbus to be near family and later moved back to Gulfport. A longtime attendee of Friendship M.B. Church, Arvetia shared her gifts with her community through her work as a cook—first with Church's Chicken and later at Palmer Home for Children—where her meals comforted staff and children alike.

Arvetia loved to cook and bake; friends and family remember the warmth of her kitchen and the care she put into preparing food for gatherings and everyday meals. She was a devoted fan of music, enjoyed styling hair for loved ones, and cherished a lifelong collection of dolls. She brought joy, laughter, and a steady presence to those around her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Dorothy Louise Bishop, and by nine siblings: Melvin Bishop, John A. Bishop, Jessie Bishop, Diane Wells, Peggy Benson, Dorothy McDavid, James Bishop, John Bishop, and Scherrell Sturdivant.

Arvetia leaves to cherish her memory her children: Akeem Bishop of Gulfport, MS; Javante Bishop of Starkville, MS; and Rayburne Bishop of Gulfport, MS. She is also survived by her siblings, Una Bishop of Columbus, MS and Mary Dell Bishop of Tampa, FL; her grand children, Emoni Bishop, Rayburne Bishop, Jr., and Jakayla Bishop; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Arvetia's legacy is one of love, nourishment, and quiet generosity—meals that gathered family, music that lifted spirits, and the countless small kindnesses that made ordinary days brighter. She will be remembered for her warm heart, her hands in the kitchen, and the way she made people feel cared for.