Birth Date: 12/18/1935
Deceased Date: 04/13/2024
Magdalene Parker Herring came into the world on February 18, 1935. She was the youngest of four children born to Ollin and Ethel Parker. She was known as Maggie or Mag to those who knew and loved her.
On a senior school trip to Washington, DC, she met the love of her life, Billy Herring. The two married on October 2, 1955. She always joked that she met Bill on a roller coaster and she had been on a roller coaster ever since. Family was everything to them. They were both raised in loving families and wanted to continue the tradition with a family of their own. They built a beautiful life together in Newton Grove and raised five children together: Tommy, Lisa, David, Mark, and Betty.
In 1969 they worked together to start a company from the ground up called Hog Slat, Inc. which is still thriving today. Mom worked by Daddy’s side until the business was stable and then returned to her role as CEO in the Herring household. Through the years, Mom was known for her hospitality. Her love of flowers and ability to create beauty in everything around her was evident in every event she hosted. Her beautiful homes provided the perfect setting for entertaining family and friends. Whether she was serving a surprise lunch guest or hosting her Annual Ladies’ Christmas Luncheon at Topsail Beach, or a wedding or baby shower, she made sure everything was perfect. Large family gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas were such a joy to Mom, and she was always happy if extras showed up to enjoy her meals.
Mom’s great loves were our Daddy, her family, her church and her Lord. She was so proud of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her favorite days were when our family filled the pews at Goshen Methodist Church where she was always the first to volunteer for any church meal or event. A generous soul to the end, she was cooking and taking food to friends the day before she left us.
She was a loving mother, a cherished grandmother and great grandmother, and a loyal friend to all who were fortunate enough to call her a friend. She never met a stranger and was quick to champion the underdog. Her legacy of love and compassion will forever live on in the hearts of all who knew her. Godspeed, Mom. We were so lucky you were ours!
She is Survived by her loving husband, William Thomas Herring Sr. Children: William Thomas Herring II (Sharon) , Lisa Herring Mende (Bryant), David Herring (Lisa), Mark Herring (Sylvia) and Betty Smith (Steve). 16 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and Brother, Roland Parker of Charlotte, NC. A special thank you to Janet Carr who assisted Mom for the past 30 years and in her final years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ollin and Ethel Parker, her brother, Julius Parker, her sister, Betty Parker Coleman, and Grandson, Walker Herring Taylor and Granddaughter, Elizabeth McCollough Smith.
A Celebration of her life will be at Goshen Methodist Church 2765 Suttontown Road Newton Grove, NC 28366, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 1pm. Following the service, the family will receive guests in the Church Fellowship Hall from 2pm – 4pm.
Memorials may be sent to Goshen Methodist Church P.O. Box 51 Newton Grove, NC 28366
