An obituary was published
Martha Claiborne Smith Bishop "Claiborne", 74, of Charlottesville, Virginia passed away peacefully after a brief illness surrounded by her family on January 30, 2025.
Born December 16,1950, in Cumberland MD, she was daughter to William Baldwin Smith III and Martha Irving Lunsford Smith.
At age 3 Claiborne moved with her family to her mother's native Virginia and except for 4 years in Virginia Beach, she lived the remainder of her life in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. She attended Venable School and Lane High School. During her teenage years she excelled in tennis, swimming, football (she was captain, and quarterback of the winning powder-puff team) and of course riding. She began riding as a child with Ellie Wood Kieth at Keithwood and quickly became a fearless equestrian. There in 1964 she met Tom Bishop when he moved from California to attend UVA. After high school she went to Converse College for 2 years majoring in mathematics and as a member of the riding team. But marriage intervened, and at 19 she was off to start a career as an accomplished horseman and instructor. Tom was then a sailor in the Navy stationed in Virgina Beach and had acquired Great Neck Stables which Claiborne quickly transformed into a thriving enterprise. In 3 years, the business had outgrown the homestead, and they moved to The Barracks in Charlottesville, Virginia. Here they built one of the most respected equestrian programs in the country, founded the University of Virginia Riding team, had a successful equine breeding and rehabilitation program, and Claiborne dedicated her life to shaping generations of horsemen.
UVA Riding and her private students garnered many accolades over the years including several Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Championships,10 Affiliated National Riding Commission Championships, multiple United States Equestrian Federation Horse of The Year awards, championships and grand championships at the country's most prominent horse shows. She was Director Emeritus on the IHSA Board, and received the IHSA Lifetime Achievement award in 1996. She was a member of the Virginia Horse Shows Association Board of Directors and had been for 40 years. She was also awarded VHSA Horseperson of the year in 1986 and 2008, the VHSA Andrew Montgomery Award in 2007, inducted to the VHSA Hall of Fame in 2010 and numerous horse and trainer high score awards for the VHSA, USHJA and USEF.
Claiborne was a true icon in the equestrian world and an irreplaceable presence in the lives of so many. Her legacy is one of excellence, generosity that knew no bounds, and unwavering dedication to the sport and people she loved. More than her accomplishments, Claiborne's generosity was a bright light in the lives of many as a mentor, friend, and teacher. She appreciated hard work and a good laugh. Stories shared prove that she would give you the shirt off her back if a horse didn't need it more, and that she seemed invincible to all that held her in such high regard. The lessons she taught, both in and out of the saddle, will continue to live on in every person lucky enough to have known her.
Tom and Claiborne's shared passion for horses, dogs, and mentorship laid the foundation for The Barracks Farm and over the next 54 years of marriage, they poured their hearts and souls into every animal, equestrian, and guest that passed through the brick pillars. Claiborne was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Endlessly proud of her daughter's accomplishments not just in the saddle, but in every aspect of their lives, Maria and Marianna inherited her undeniable talent as horsemen, making their marks in the equestrian world. Her grandchildren, Parker, Porter and Ella Grace, brought her immeasurable joy, and nothing made her light up more than talking about them, except maybe her sons-in-law.
Claiborne is survived by her husband Thomas Benton Bishop Jr; daughter Maria Rose Bishop Shannon and Jonathan Shannon, daughter Marianna Roeding Bishop Wade and Troy Wade. Grandchildren: Thomas Parker Shannon, Porter Jamison Wade and Ella Grace Ruffin Wade who all lived at The Barracks with her. She is also survived by brother Edwin Watson "Mike" Smith and his wife Ellen of Chesterfield, Va.
A celebration of life will be held this spring at The Barracks with details to come. In Lieu of Flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Equestrian Aid Foundation at equestrianaidfoundation.org.
(Source: Obituary.)
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