William C. "Bill" Herring

Retired SMSgt William Carroll Herring passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, January 31, 2023, after a short hospital stay. SMSgt Herring was born August 6, 1933, to Elura and Gordon Herring.  He experienced many challenges in his early life due to the Great Depression and WWII, but these also shaped his future work ethic and outlook on life.  When he was 12 years old he was gifted with his only sibling, a sister, Barbara.  Among the highlights of his teen years was one of his favorite stories to tell: how he caught a pig in contest, sold it, and used the money to join the Air Force when he was 17.  Not long after, he married Shirley Williams and they welcomed three children into the world: Chuck, Vicki, and Bobby.  Always up for an adventure, he spent the next 21 years traveling around the world with his family while serving his country in Japan, Germany, and Vietnam, among other places.  Before retiring from the military in 1973, he started a lumber yard business which grew to include several lumber yards in Alabama and Georgia. In 1976, he married the love of his life, May Stapleton, and became a stepfather to her three girls: Sherryl, Gina, and Laura. After retiring from his second career, he and May moved to O’Brien, Florida, where together they cared for her horses and dogs, and his goats and chickens, until her passing in 2015.  Even in his golden years he never slowed down, continuing to work around his home and dabble in whatever piqued his interest.  Finally, in 2019, he made one last move to Calera, Alabama, to be near his daughter, Vicki, and her family.  He never met a stranger and had many close friends he kept in contact with through the years.  All who knew Mr. Bill loved him for his charm, sense of humor, and willingness to help people in need, and so even his stubbornness became an endearing quality. Mr. Herring was preceded in death by 2 nephews, David and Dwayne Gibson; and 1 great niece.  

He leaves to cherish his memory his sister, Barbara Gibson; children, Vicki (Jim) Motley, Bobby (Grace) Herring, Gina Stapleton, Laura (Russell) Parks, and Sherryl Whitt; seven grandchildren, Erik (Abbie) Herring, Morgan (Jon) Hargett, Josh Motley, Heather (Adam) Dillard, Sara (David) Fletcher, Katie (Chris) Schmeltzer, and Savannah Hodge; nine great grandchildren, Amelia and Sadie Herring, Jack, Jonah, and Lillia Hargett, Wyatt Dillard, Beau Fletcher, Elianne Schmeltzer, and Parker Brookerd; 1 nephew, Darren Gibson; one niece, Dana Gibson Langford (Doyle); 7 great nephews; 2 great nieces; and special friend, Ms. Becky Snow.

Funeral services for Mr. Herring will be conducted on Monday, February 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM at O’Brien Baptist Church in O’Brien, Florida.  Interment with military honors will immediately follow at O’Brien Cemetery.  A time of visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service at the church from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the church. 

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