Lewis Whitfield “LW” Herring Jr. of LaGrange passed from his earthly home on October 8, 2021 at the Wake Med ICU after a valiant fight.
LW was born to the late Lewis Herring and Rosa Etta Dail Herring in Greenville, NC December 22, 1949. Lewis was a farmer probably from the time he could walk. His father had many health issues and passed away when Lewis was young so he grew up fast and took over running the family business. He farmed up until his very last days on this earth and was so grateful for the loyal friends who stood by him over the years through times of plentiful harvest and times of not nearly enough. He was a prideful man but he knew the true value of friends who would see him through those times. A man’s best friend is often his dog and such was the case for Lewis. He had many dogs over the years and would often bring home strays he found while working. Wherever he was his dog would not be far behind.
His current beloved companion, Ginger, is still waiting for him to come home. He was not a man of few words and had an opinion on any given subject but he had a heart of gold and would help anyone. His strong will carried him through many tough times and he never let anything get him down. His giving spirit often had him cooking chicken for the boy scouts, helping someone with a wheelchair ramp for a loved one, or giving a fellow farmer enough hay to tide him over until things were a little better. Lewis was not a man who showed affection easily but he truly believed the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach and his cooking is how he expressed love. He was a grill master with many secret recipes, in particular the sauce he prepared to go on his famous BBQ beef brisket. His pecan pie and hash brown casserole were second to none.
In his later years, Lewis found community in the Eastern North Carolina Shag Club. He found great joy in the fellowship of the friends he made while dancing and it was something he looked forward to when they were finally able to begin meeting again. His bright Hawaiian shirts, big belt buckles, and fancy hats were well known in the dance community. He was often the “chef” for events in other local shag clubs as well and really enjoyed being able to participate in those events. His work ethic sprang from his deep love for his family. He held them to a high standard and gave them unsolicited advice up until his last breath. His grandchildren were also a great source of pride for him.
He particularly enjoyed teaching them anytime he had a chance. Lewis truly believed that he knew the best way to do everything and we would imagine his greatest regret is not getting an opportunity to do all the things that he intended to do for his family. “If you would just give me a chance, I’ll get to it”, is what he would say.
Lewis is survived by his daughter, Laura Lee Dawson, and husband, Jon; son, Lewis Herring III; daughter, Susan Waldo, and husband, Freddie; grandchildren, Emma Dawson, Ava Dawson, Ryan Jones, Noble Herring, Leah Herring, Amelia Pearson and husband, David; Allie Waldo, Tyler Moore, Nathan Moore, Aaron Moore, and Waverly Waldo.
A service of remembrance will be held at the LaGrange Christian Church Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 2:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory can be made to the LaGrange Christian Church or the Lenoir County SPCA.
