Julia Marie Bishop

   Julia Marie Bishop, 83, of Meridian, passed away peacefully the early afternoon hours of Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at Poplar Springs Nursing Facility surrounded by her loving family.

    Julia was born to Thomas J. and Audie (Hawkins) Dawson on July 5, 1941, in Texas. At a young age, her family relocated to Mississippi, making their home in Pascagoula. After high school, Julia attended Millsaps College where she became a member of the Phi Mu Sorority and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. In 1962, she married the love of her life, the late Dr. Allen David Bishop, Jr., and they began their family while living in Jackson. She will be remembered as a truly loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. 

    Julia enjoyed working with and educating children throughout her life. As her family grew, she created a daycare facility at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson, and it has since become a nationally recognized accredited daycare as Christ United Preschool. Her teaching methods were largely based on hands on learning. During her preschool and teaching days, she would have the students grow and tend their own gardens and would also teach them how to prepare the vegetables to eat. Julia traveled all over the state advocating for children and starting accredited daycares and preschools. She also devoted her time to teaching Sunday School at her church, Andrew Chapel Church of Meridian. She was very active in her church until the decline of her health. Her love for education and children has no doubt left an impact everywhere Julia has been.

    Julia was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas J. and Audie H. Dawson; her husband, Dr. Allen David Bishop, Jr.; her brother, Aron Vol Dawson; and her sister, Sue Ellen Jennings.

    Those she leaves behind to treasure her memory are her daughter, Marie B. Whitt (Kevin); her son, Allen D. Bishop (Megan); her sisters, Kay Meyers and Nancy Hock; along with three grandchildren, Anné Whitt, Allen David Bishop IV, and Joell Corren Bishop.

    Visitation for Julia will be on Friday, March 7th from 12-1 pm at Webb & Stephens Funeral Homes-North. Funeral Services will begin in the chapel at 1 pm with Reverends Gib Prince and Matthew Hall officiating the service. She will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband in Magnolia Cemetery.

    The staff of Webb & Stephens Funeral Homes-North is grateful for the opportunity to honor Julia’s life and memory and to serve her loving family during this time.