Sheila Aline Maloney Dial passed peacefully on Monday, January 30, 2023, surrounded by loving family and friends.

Sheila was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 27, 1944, and was the seventh child of Paul Maloney, Jr. and Evelyn Hardie. She was raised by her aunt and uncle, Fernand and Margaret Gandolfo, alongside their three daughters Margaret Gandolfo Farris, Manon Gandolfo McKinnon, and Ann Marie Gandolfo Smith, with whom she remained very close until her passing. Sheila or "SAM" as she was nicknamed by her Gandolfo family, loved her three older sisters very much and often told tales of their summers on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Sheila was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Michael "Mike" Dial. She is survived by her daughters Allison Faye Dial Carrow and Sara Balfour Dial, son-in-law Craig Joseph Carrow, and her grandsons Michael Coleman Carrow, William Joseph Carrow, and Cooper Thomas Carrow who will miss her terribly.

Her loving family includes her sister, late Margaret Gandolfo Farris & late brother-in-law Charles Farris, nephews Charlie Farris (Jane) & grandniece Frannie Franks (Michael) & great-grandnephew Farris & great-grandniece Jane & grandnephew Buddy Farris, Bradley Farris (Eileen) & grandnieces Charlotte & Nina Farris, Woody Farris (Merry Page) & grandniece Merry Alston, Waddy Farris (Monica) & grandniece Kate, Ham Farris (Teresa) & niece Meg Farris Adams (Mike), surviving sister Manon Gandolfo McKinnon, nephew Will McKinnon (Tree) & grandnephews Billy, Danny, Tommy, Jimmy & grandniece Lilly, niece Clerc Hunter (Bill) and grandnephew Charlie and her sister AnnMarie Gandolfo Smith & late brother-in-law Guy W. Smith, nephew Foster Smith (Amy), grandnephews Parker Smith, Taylor Smith & niece Lindsey Smith. She was the last surviving sibling of the seven Maloney children.

She graduated from Holy Name of Jesus Mercy Academy in New Orleans and made her formal debut in 1966, serving as Queen of the Krewe of Dorians and as Maid of Honor in several Mardi Gras balls. She attended Louisiana State University, where she met her husband, Mike, on a blind date. They became fast friends, fell in love, and were married at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans on July 8, 1967. Theirs was a true love story; Sheila loved "Bots" (Mike's given grandfather name by Cole, who at age 2 could not pronounce Pops) and always told stories of their fun-filled life and escapades. They explored the west in a camper with a toddler in tow, stayed in haunted hotels, visited area 51, and enjoyed family time in Destin. Sheila was intrigued by the paranormal and would tell everyone about her ghost and alien encounters.

After living in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Mike and Sheila moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with their young daughter Allison. Sheila embraced her life in Atlanta and loved living close to her sister, Manon, and her family. As any native New Orleanian would, she took every opportunity to return to the Crescent City, visiting family, attending Jazz Festivals and Mardi Gras, often with friends and family. Sheila and Mike were excellent hosts and enjoyed sharing the city they loved with friends and family, taking first-timers to all their favorite dive bars and po-boy shops.

Sheila and Mike were very passionate about food and entertaining. As consummate chefs, they loved sharing their penchant for Cajun and Creole cuisine with friends in Atlanta. If you were lucky enough to be invited to a Dial party, you knew you were in for delicious eats like eggs hussarde, gumbo, fried turkey, crawfish etouffee, shrimp creole, lots of libations, and most likely, a very competitive card game of Bourré.

Sheila was also a talented artist, studying art in college and, later in life, painting needlepoint canvas for many shops in New Orleans. Her original canvases of New Orleans landmarks, Christmas stockings, and Santa ornaments are surely adorning mantles and Christmas trees across the states. She adored Cooper for becoming a talented artist and proudly proclaimed passing down that genetic talent.

Sheila enjoyed reading, crosswords, card games, painting, and socializing and worked tirelessly advocating for her daughter Sara. Mike and Sheila dedicated their lives to ensuring Sara had the best possible life and care. Because of Sheila's efforts, her caregivers, and her dedicated case manager Dee at InCommunity, Sara lives a happy, productive life and has been an employee of Publix for over 25 years.

Sheila loved her three grandsons fiercely and was very involved in their lives, never missing a sporting event, robotics competition, or concert, even in her later years when her forced mode of transportation became a scooter. Cole, Will, and Cooper were the sun in the solar system for Honey and Bots, and the five of them had many adventures over the years. Honey and Bots were always available for their grandchildren, who adored them. Honey loved that Will reached out to her just two weeks ago while he was in New Orleans to see how she was doing and ask for dining recommendations. Of course, she was happy to provide sage advice on precisely what to order at Galatoire's and loved knowing her grandson was enjoying New Orleans.

Everyone knew when Honey entered the area. Her witty, boisterous personality (OK, she was loud) filled a room and her New Orleans accent definitely drew attention here in Georgia. Her spunky personality definitely made her stand out in a room. She was an avid reader and chose her grandmother name, "Honey," after reading an obituary, which she often did, along with every book she could get her hands on. Everyone who knew Honey loved her, and she made new friends everywhere she went, likely inviting them over for dinner the following weekend…for real…and they always accepted. They truly lived a "the door is always open" life and, for sure, never met a stranger. She was very active in her apartment community, making wonderful new friendships over Mahjong, Wine Wednesday, and monthly casino trips. It's been said more than once the community will not be the same without her constant presence gaming or doing puzzles in the lounge.


Sheila loved music…all genres from New Orleans Jazz to the Beatles and Stones. Her album collection would be the envy of every college kid with a turntable. Sheila and Mike loved live music, hole-in-the-wall bars, and off-the-beaten-path restaurants. They may even have been known to bring bands back home on a Saturday night for a post-show afterparty. During one particular Jazz Fest, a musician stopped playing right in the middle of his performance, proclaiming, "I see Shelia Dial…she makes the BEST red beans and rice…she puts a little sugar in them like my mamma did!" Her vivacious personality left a lasting impression on everyone she met, and she will be remembered her for spunky, sassy demeanor!

Sheila was always proud of Cole, Will, and Cooper's accomplishments but was especially excited to attend Cole's graduation from Georgia Tech in December 2022. She was equally thrilled by Will and Cooper's acceptance to the University of Georgia in 2020. She loved that they have enjoyed two championship football seasons, even though, as a long-time LSU fan, she was less than thrilled with the latest outcome of the SEC championship.

We are all devastated to have lost our Honey but rejoice that she is pain-free and reunited with her beloved Bots, who indeed met her at the pearly gates with her favorite gumbo and a bloody mary…laissez les bon temps rouler Honey until we meet again!

A celebration of life is planned for Sunday, February 5 at 770 Scotlandwell Place, Milton, Georgia at 1:00 PM. All of her many friends are welcome at this event she requested of fun, food and music.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to InCommunity, a non-profit very close to Sheila's heart, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Atlanta area. Donations can be made at http://www.incommunityga.org/generaldonation?fbclid=IwAR19C5Zbr3sA_BEqTTiDqFoyu-1C3Z_V4IbIO5zF4Am7uvWbFmQXibQm1yk with special mention of honoree Sara Dial, Pine Grove House.