Kathy Lynn Herndon

Ms. Kathy Lynn Herndon, 69, of Atlanta passed away on August 18th, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Born on October 2nd, 1956 in Athens, Georgia. Kathy was the daughter of the late Shirley McCurley Herndon and Thomas Hewell Herndon. She was the granddaughter of the late Dan McCurley and Annie Ruth Perry McCurley and the late Pete Herndon and Opal Hewell Herndon.

Growing up in a career military family, Kathy spent her early life in Georgia, Oregon, Texas, Missouri, Arizona, England and Germany. Kathy and her sisters, Kim and Karen, spent many holidays and summers in Hartwell. She attended Hart County High her sophomore year and was crowned “Miss Bulldog” by the football team. She graduated from S.D. Lee High in Columbus, Mississippi, class of 1974 and was honored there as Miss Homecoming.

Kathy was a proud 1977 graduate of the University of Georgia. She was a diehard Georgia Bulldog fan. She continued her post graduate education at Georgia College and State University. Kathy graduated from Georgia State University with her Master’s degree.

She began her teaching career in 1978 at the Barrow County Training Center followed by the Baldwin County Public School System.

In 1985, Kathy began working in education for the Fulton County School System in Atlanta, Georgia. She was loved by all her special students, parents and fellow teachers. Kathy retired in 2012 from her long distinguished teaching career in special education.

Following retirement, Kathy enjoyed traveling and concerts. She spent many wonderful times making memories with friends and family in Atlanta, at beautiful Lake Hartwell, and in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Kathy is survived by her sisters, Kim Herndon Hilley and Karen Herndon Price, her niece Brandy, nephews Taylor and Dakota and great nephews Wesley and Christian. Kathy is also survived by many loving cousins from the Perry, McCurley and Herndon families. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.

Kathy’s smile, her laughter, friendliness and kindness will be remembered by all that loved her. Her thoughtful, unique and creative happy birthday memes will be missed by everyone.

“Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same.”

It was Kathy’s wishes to be cremated with no formal services.

Memorials may be made in her memory to an organization that was near and dear to Kathy’s heart, the Georgia Special Olympics