Sheila Farish Bonner

Sheila Bonner, 83, of Atlanta passed away Tuesday Jan. 21, 2025, after a brief illness. Sheila was born in Selma, Alabama, in 1941 to Evelyn Edwards Farish and Edward King Farish. She lived in Selma until 1958, when she and her family moved to Montgomery where she finished high school and attended Auburn at Montgomery. She worked for the State Department in Montgomery, and during this time she met and dated her future husband, Phil Bonner. After being married, Sheila and Phil lived briefly in Birmingham and Memphis, Tennessee, before settling in Atlanta. She had three daughters and was an active volunteer at Christ the King Parish and School for many years. As her daughters got older, she went to work for The Woman’s Auxiliary of Piedmont Hospital. She devoted more than 30 years of her life to Piedmont and to the Women’s Auxiliary, working tirelessly to help grow and preserve the integrity and rich history of the organization. Many of her closest friendships were made while working with the numerous presidents and dedicated volunteers at the auxiliary.

Sheila and Phil were active members of their community and volunteered with many organizations and worthy causes, including The Arthritis Foundation, The Heart Association, Zoo Atlanta, The Atlanta Humane Society, Good Mews, and Rabun Gap – Nacoochee School. Her faith was very important to her. She was a parishioner at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, where she often attended daily mass. Her number one priority was her family, and she adored being She She to her six devoted grandchildren. Her favorite pastime was supporting them in all of their activities, and she spoke to or texted with each of them almost daily.

Sheila is predeceased by her loving husband, Phil Bonner; parents, King and Evelyn Farish; and her sister, Gail Johnson. She is survived by her three daughters, Farish Wheeler (Marc), Meredith Preston (Mark), and Spencer Byce (Jay); her six grandchildren, Luke and Jack Wheeler, Catherine and Conner Preston, Miller and Stark Byce; her brother, Sam Farish (Janet), sister Evelyn King Thornton, sister-in-law Amelia Bonner Dick; her beloved nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and even a handful of great, great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a host of friends and neighbors, many of whom she thought of as her family.

The funeral mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church (4465 Northside Drive, NW) on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 12:30, followed by a Celebration of Life at 3:00 at Capital City Club (Brookhaven).