Betty Coleman Herring went to be with her Lord at the age of 92 on June 4, 2026. Betty was born in Dickson, Tennessee on June 7th, 1933 to Willard and Lois Coleman. As a child, she was a fearless tomboy who loved the outdoors, climbing trees, and roller skating through her mother’s flower shop. She was a majorette and drum major in high school (the first female drum major at her school) and college at Austin Peay State University. An excellent student, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education at Austin Peay, a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at University of Central Florida, and a Master’s Degree in School Administration at University of North Florida.
While at Austin Peay, she met a football player named Kenneth Dewey Herring. She described him as, “6’2, good looking, flat top, crew cut, red hair, and just out of the army.” She married the love of her life soon after college and then came to Auburn University for Ken to get his Master’s Degree. Ken and Betty enjoyed a wonderful life together of family, friends, and church. Ken was a coach and principal and Betty taught elementary school in Alabama and Florida. She especially loved teaching first graders because of that beautiful “lightbulb” moment when they learned how to read. Ken and Betty retired and moved to Reeltown, Alabama in 1994. They were married 51 years until Ken’s death in 2008. They had four children; Ron (Libba), Randy (Liz), Rhonda Herring (Craig), and Rod (Karen); eleven grandchildren- Laura Crook (Wheeler), Stephanie Lucas, Ryan Herring (Stacie), Will Herring (Ashley), Rusty Herring (Kathryn), Kate Manning (Shon), Caroline Myers (Tre’), Neal Herring, Rachel Herring, Ross Herring, and Samantha Gipson (John Todd); and twenty-four great-grandchildren.
Simply known as “Granny” to many, Betty was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, beloved aunt, and dear friend. Through many moves, she made the decision to bloom wherever she was planted and collected friends everywhere she went— in Florida and Alabama, even later in life in Reeltown, Opelika, First Baptist, and Auburn Assisted Living. She wrote to one of the grandkids, “It’s amazing how God drops people and opportunities into our lives. We just have to listen!” She loved life and lived it well. At 86 years old, Betty still worked in the church library, attended exercise class, volunteered at the hospital, went to church whenever the doors were open, worked at the Community Food Bank, and ate lunch with a group of widows every Friday.
Betty had a special love of words. Some of her favorite hobbies included reading, working crossword puzzles, watching word-based game shows, and playing word games. Articulate and witty, she certainly had a gift with words. Her family members loved playing Scrabble with her, though they knew it meant certain defeat. Betty’s favorite word was God’s Word. She read it daily and she loved the Author.
Jesus was Lord of her life. She said, “I gave my heart to Jesus when I was 11 years old. I didn’t really know what I was doing then but now I know God had His hand on me from the get-go!” One of Betty’s greatest spiritual gifts was hospitality. Her home was always welcoming to family, friends, and strangers. She was a great cook and her joy came from seeing others share laughter and a meal around her table. Betty and Ken had a food ministry in Tallassee where they fed over 46,000 meals to the less fortunate over the course 12 years. James 2 says that faith without works is dead. Betty lived out her humble yet bold faith in action, over and over, spending her time on many good works and serving others as long as God allowed her strength to do so. The Bible tells us to practice hospitality and she did this from her heart. She was always present for her children and grandchildren and her influence on them was immeasurable. They felt loved and supported as she cheered them on in their various activities. Her dedication and example helped shape them into the people they are today, and will impact generations to come. She will be deeply missed by us all. Her favorite Scripture was Joshua 1:5- “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”
Visitation and funeral services will be held on Monday, June 8th at Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home.
Visitation is at 10:00AM and the funeral will be at 11:00AM. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 P.M. Monday in the Oakey Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, near Abbeville, Alabama. Holman Abbeville Mortuaries & Cremations is assisting with local arrangements in Henry County. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Food Bank of East Alabama.
