Obituary: Dr. Charles Leonidas Herring

Dr. Charles Leonidas Herring, 95, passed away on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at Kitty Askins Hospice House in Goldsboro, NC. A native of Lenoir County, “Charlie” Herring was born on January 16, 1929, the son of Roscoe and Rachel Herring. He graduated from Wheat Swamp High School, attended the University of North Carolina graduating in 1951, and then entered the University of North Carolina Medical School graduating in 1955. Charles did his internship at University of Virginia Medical School where he met the love of his life, Shirley, who was in her senior year at UVA Nursing School. They were married for 61 years; she predeceased him in 2018.

He is survived by his son C.L. (Debbie) Herring of Greenville, NC and daughter, Becky Herring (Tom) Mitchell of Chapel Hill, NC. His grandchildren include Charlie (Bridget) Herring of Greenville, NC, Lauren (Dylan) Cole of Greenville, SC, and Ainsley Mitchell of Wilmington, NC. He also has 4 great grandchildren as well as numerous relatives around the country and in New Zealand.

Charlie served as a captain in the US Army Medical Corps. from 1956-58 and then served as a resident in Internal Medicine at NC Memorial Hospital followed by a Fellowship in Chest and Infectious Diseases at NC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC. He opened his private practice of Internal Medicine in Kinston, NC in 1961 and cared for his patients for forty years.

Recognized as a local and state civic leader, Charlie Herring was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 1979, received the Distinguished Service Award from the UNC Medical Alumni Association in 1986, and was inducted into the Lenoir Memorial Hospital Hall of Fame in 2007. Charlie served as the president of the University of North Carolina Medical Alumni Association and the Whitehead Medical Society. He was a member of the Lenoir-Greene Counties Medical Society, N.C. State Medical Society, American Medical Association, N.C. Society of Internal Medicine, and the American Society of Internal Medicine.

Always proud of his roots in Kinston and Lenoir County, Charlie was a leader in his community by serving on the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce, Kinston-Lenoir County Committee of 100, the Rotary Club, Lenoir County Historical Association, Ram Neuse Gunboat Association, and Lenoir County Battlefield Commission. He was a dedicated and active member of Gordon Street Christian Church serving as an elder as well as chairman of search committee and other leadership roles within the church.

Charlie was passionate about history, woodworking, farming/animals, photography, and traveling. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who cared deeply about his family, friends, and community.

A celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, June 26 at 3:00 pm at Gordon Street Christian Church in Kinston, NC. A reception will be held afterwards at the Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Gordon Street Christian Church, 118 E. Gordon St. Kinston, NC 28501 or to Lenoir County SPCA, PO Box 1481, Kinston, NC 28503.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.rousefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Rouse Funeral Home, LaGrange,