Born on August 1, 1961 in Washington, DC, Carlton Travis Bishop departed this life on August 15, 2008 in Enfield, North Carolina. He was the eldest son of Ruth Bishop of Brooklyn, New York and grandson of the late Carrie and Jesse Whitaker, Jr. of Enfield. "Carl", as he was affectionately called by relatives and friends, spent most of his life in Enfield where he attended Halifax County Schools.

Carl was best known for his quiet and cheerful manner. He enjoyed creating artistic works and sharing them with friends and family. His love for music and poetry was evident in the many original writings and melodies he wrote just for fun. One of his proudest accomplishments was earning the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) during his early adult years.

Carl leaves to mourn his loss, his mother: Ruth Bishop; three sisters: Kathy, Michelle and Ivory Bishop; four brothers: Derwin Palmer, Antoine Bradford, Elmer and Brian Bishop, all of Brooklyn, NY. An infant sister, Tiffany Bishop, preceded him in death. Other survivors include an aunt: Katheryn Bush of Newport News, VA; uncles: Joe Bishop of Enfield, NC, William Bishop of Brooklyn and Leon Whitaker of Atlanta, GA. His great-aunt: Mary Hammiel; and a number of other relatives and friends reside in North Carolina and other states.