Wanda Elaine Bishop

Wanda Elaine Bishop (Bearden), of Dallas, GA, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026, at 10:15 AM, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 75.

Born on July 16, 1950, to Robert B. Bearden and Thelma J. Bearden (Brown), Wanda was a woman of deep and unwavering faith. She made sure her family was in church every Sunday, and her relationship with the Lord was the anchor of her life. That light carried into everything she did.

For 28 years, Wanda dedicated her life to the students of Cobb County Schools, where she made a lasting impact on countless lives through her service in education.

She was married to her high school sweetheart, M.L. Bishop, for 50 beautiful years - a love story that began when they were young, found its way back to each other, and never let go. Together, they built a beautiful blended family - a "mine, yours, and ours" kind of love that created something extraordinary.

Wanda is survived by her devoted husband, M.L. Bishop; her three children: Buffy Allison Payne (Matt), Jason Lamar Bishop (Jackie), and Brandy Elaine Herring (Jeremy); her ten cherished grandchildren: Megan Owens, Allison Owens, Ethan Herring (Katie), Emily Greene (Stephen), Emily Bishop, Ava Bishop, Conner Christie, Maddie Payne, Ian Payne, and Noah Herring; her sisters: Peggy Hines (Bobby) and Brenda Bearden; and her brother, Wayne Bearden (Melanie).

Wanda also courageously battled Parkinson's disease in recent years, facing each day with grace and strength.

To know Wanda was to know her famous "Wanda hugs" - the kind that made you feel like everything was going to be okay. She loved flowers, classic movies, the warmth of family gatherings, and a good "maw margarita" shared with the people she adored. Her laugh was contagious, her love was fierce, and her faith was unshakable.

Wanda had a special fondness for ladybugs - a small but beautiful reminder that even the tiniest of God's creatures carry His grace. In the days ahead, may every ladybug you see be a gentle whisper from her: "See you soon."

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at West Cobb Funeral Home.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Paulding Hospital for their compassionate care.

The family asks that you pay forward a hug, hold your people a little longer, and cherish your time together. Flowers or Donations in her honor to the Parkinson's Research Foundation [https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1416005] would also be a beautiful tribute. But as we all know Wanda, any token of remembrance would bring a smile to her heart.

"See you soon, Mom. Not goodbye."