Mrs. Millie “Jean” Roberts Herring, 82, died peacefully, Friday, April 29, 2016 at her residence while surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Union county, MS on December 1, 1933. She was one of ten children born to Woody and Linda Greer Roberts.
She was a 1952 graduate of Center High School where she was chosen as Valedictorian, Most Beautiful, and Most Valuable Athlete. She was considered the “Teacher’s Pet” as she was outgoing and intelligent. Upon graduation, the love of her life, Edward “Ed” Herring returned to Union county after serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, and they were married on May 21, 1952. They made their home in Tupelo until moving to Clarksdale from 1961 to 1963, and then to Little Rock, Ark from 1963 to 1969 while her husband worked for Continental Baking Company (Wonder Bread). Jean was a homemaker until going to LPN school at Baptist in Little Rock, Ark. 1967-1968. She always had homemade cookies that could be smelled when her children, Phillip and Vonda were entering the carport. She was highly respected by the physicians and medical associates that she worked with, for her professional care with patients. Later after returning to Tupelo, she earned her RN degree in 1977 from Itawamba Junior College in Fulton. She was employed by North MS Medical Center for twenty-seven years before retiring. A nurse in the truest sense of the founder of Nurses, Florence Nightingale, she served as a Preceptor for student nurses and considered herself a “professional nurse” very serious about her work, involving a white cap and uniform always perfect. Many patients benefited from her care. She loved to read and was an expert seamstress. She enjoyed roses and loved her grandchildren. She was a very loving, mild-mannered, and soft spoken lady. Her husband was the head of the home, and being a Godly wife, she lovingly supported him. She was an active member of Harrisburg Baptist Church where she was a member of Ruth Sunday school class until her health began to fail.
A service honoring the life of Mrs. Jean will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, in the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with Dr. Forrest Sheffield officiating. Private burial will be at Tupelo Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to service time.
Survivors include her children, Phillip Herring and Vonda Herring Peters (Jerry), all of Tupelo; daughter-in-law, Merrittlee Bank Herring; twin brother, Dean Roberts and sisters, Carolyn Roberts, Joan Fox, and Mable Ruth Rakestraw; brother-in-law, Virgil Herring and sisters-in-law, Betty Wade Roberts, Betty Roberts, and Nell Roberts; seven grandchildren, Mark O. Peters, Troy E. Peters, Katherine Herring Campagna, Megan Herring, Skylar Herring, Elizabeth Hope Herring, and Wyatt Herring; four great-grandchildren, Olivia, Emerson, Clark, and Harrison; a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed “Boots” Herring who died March 4, 2016, and son, Morris Herring who died April 17, 2007; sister, Mary Elizabeth Clayton and brothers, Richard Roberts, Gerald Roberts, Hoyle Roberts, and Lynwood Roberts.
Honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons, Mark O. Peters, Troy E. Peters, Skylar Herring, and Wyatt Herring.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be sent to Tupelo South Camp 23117, The Gideons International, P.O. Box 2647, Tupelo, MS 38803.
