Marilyn Estelle Bishop

Marilyn “Sandy” Bishop went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 11, 2025, at her home in Watkinsville, GA.

Sandy was the oldest daughter of the late Kenneth and Muriel Smith and was born on May 28, 1945 in Oceanport, NJ. She was preceded in death by her sister Lois Smith Bell and her brother Dale Smith.

She graduated from Long Branch High School in New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's degree from West Chester State College and her Masters from the University of Georgia. In the early 1970’s Sandy and Billy lived in Columbia, SC. During her time there she taught elementary school PE, gymnastics and swimming. Additionally, she taught a morning exercise segment on “Today In Carolina” a local NBC affiliate. In 1973, she returned to Watkinsviile, GA. She coached gymnastics at Athens Recreation Department until opening her own gym, Classic City Gymnastics Club, in 1977. She began a career as a NCAA and NAWGJ gymnastics judge in 1971 that spanned almost 50 years. She served on many committees and held leadership roles and was highly respected by the gymnasts, coaches and other judges. In the mid 1990’s she began teaching college PE classes at Truett-McConnell College. For more than a decade, she taught Senior Stretch for the Oconee County Recreation Department.

Sandy was most known as the “Queen of the Pool” for her constant presence at Shamrock Recreation Club. She began teaching swimming lessons when she was 10 years old with her mother in a New Jersey River. She started teaching swimming lessons at Shamrock in 1973 and taught until 2020, over the years she taught thousands of children and a few adults how to swim. She started the pool’s first swim team in 1974 leading to the creation of the Oconee County swim league. The Aqua Girls, her morning water aerobics class, were an important part of her summers.

Sandy’s Christian ministry was widespread and long lasting. As a longtime member of Watkinsville First Baptist Church she served as recreation director for VBS and AWANA’s secretary. She loved singing in the church choir and served as the Children’s choir director, producing many children’s musicals. She was an original organizer and lifelong board member of ACTS. She loved ministering to those in need. She was passionate about shopping for bargains, which she turned into a ministry to provide Christmas gifts and necessities for several pastor’s and their families in Mexico.

She was passionate about her children and grandchildren. When her children were younger she loved leading and watching them participate in sports, church musicals, and numerous other activities. She also enjoyed taking her children on many trips during the summer months to New Jersey to visit her mom and throughout the eastern United States. Mama Sandy, as her granddaughters affectionately called her, loved spending time with her granddaughters and participating in their extracurricular activities.

In her later years she traveled extensively with her mother and brother all over the world, including Japan, Germany, the Caribbean, and Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club.

She is survived by her husband William “Billy” Bishop. Her children Greer Bishop Wells (Ken) and William Scott Bishop (Shanna). Her granddaughters Karlee, Kendall, Kourtney and Kamryn Wells and Eliza, Stella, and Addee Bishop.

Memorial services will be Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 11:00 am at Watkinsville First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10:00 am until service time and following the service beginning again at 12:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Watkinsville First Baptist Church in support of A.C.T.S., P.O. Box 228, Watkinsville, GA 30677.

Lord and Stephens, West is in charge of arrangements.