W. Jeff Bishop

W. Jeff Bishop serves as director of Reinhardt University’s Funk Heritage Center in Waleska, Georgia, the state of Georgia’s official interpretive center for its pioneer and Native American history. Prior to that, Jeff served for five years as executive director of the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the McRitchie-Hollis Museum, the Newnan History Center (historic train depot), and the Male Academy Museum. He was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to serve on the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council in 2017. Jeff grew up in Senoia (now known worldwide as the “home set” of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” providing the backdrop for the fictional towns of Woodbury and Alexandria). While attending East Coweta High School, Jeff was recognized as the top student journalist in the nation. Prior to his career as author and historian, Jeff worked for many years as a writer and editor for various Georgia newspapers and magazines. He has published numerous books and plays based on the history of Northwest Georgia. He received his undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and his master’s degree in public history and museum studies at the University of West Georgia, where he was recognized with the Cita Cook History Award for his master’s thesis. He served as president of the Trail of Tears Association’s Georgia chapter from 2007 to 2014. His public history projects have included partnering with the National Park Service to develop wayside exhibits that interpret the Trail of Tears in Georgia and authoring a new Georgia Trail of Tears map and brochure, which are now available in welcome centers all over the nation. He lives in Newnan, GA with his wife and five children.