Michael Herndon Obituary

Michael Herndon, Sr. WALTERBORO - Mr. Michael Lee Herndon, Sr., 60, of Davis Circle, Walterboro, entered into rest Tuesday afternoon, March 26, 2013, at the Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro. Funeral services will be conducted 4 o'clock Friday afternoon, March 29, 2013, from The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Chapel, Walterboro. The Reverend Bruce Fox and The Reverend Steve Crosby officiating. Interment will follow Bethel Baptist Churchyard, 3841 Sidneys Road, Walterboro. The family has requested that the faculty and staff of the Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center serve as Honorary Escorts and their presence is requested at The Funeral Chapel at 3:30 that afternoon. Born February 15, 1953, a native of Charleston, South Carolina and having resided all of his life in Walterboro, he was a son of the late Tal H. Herndon, Sr. and the late Gladys Searson Herndon. Mike was a dedicated educator having touched and enriched the lives of numerous young people during his career as an automotive instructor with the Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center of the Colleton County School District where he was in his twenty-third year of teaching. Because of his dedication to providing the best in education to his scholars, he had received national certification for the center by the National Automotive Training Education Foundation, a national certification that few schools have achieved. He was a member of the South Carolina Automobiles Association and was a certified master mechanic with Automotive Service Excellence Association. As it was known by everyone, Mike loved cars, and because of that love he was formerly active with Summerville Speedway, where he raced, performed countless engine work, served in various pit crews and in 1987 was awarded the Gold Wrench. Not only during the childhood years of his children but for several other years, he was active with the Colleton County Parks and Recreation Commission where he coached Baseball, Softball, and Soccer and in 1997 led one of his Softball teams to a National Championship. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Walterboro and was an avid NASCAR Motor Sports Fan having been a longtime supporter of Rusty Wallace. Mike also possessed a love for music, and was formerly the lead guitarist with the band, Beatin Paths. The teachings and life of Mike Herndon will forever live on in the lives of his family and countless others throughout a community in which he was greatly loved and highly admired. Surviving are: his wife of forty years, Mrs. Vicky Craven Herndon; two sons, Michael Lee Herndon, Jr. of Rock Hill and Jonathan Russell Herndon and his fiance;e, Amanda Marie Bastian; two daughters, Katie Evonne Herndon of Walterboro and Samantha Herndon Hiott and her husband Brandon Ashley Hiott of Walterboro; and two sisters, Shirley Herndon Bailey of Walterboro and Patricia Herndon Blitch of Charleston. There are three grandchildren whom he adored, Cohen Edward Crosby, Sadie Lynn Hiott, and Noah Michael Lentz-Herndon; and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Vera Dell Craven Harrison of Walterboro; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins who also survive. He was preceded in death by a brother, Tal H. "Sonny" Herndon, Jr.; and three sisters, Helen Herndon Hudson, Brenda Ray Herndon, and Paula Herndon Polk. For those who wish, the family has respectfully requested that memorial contributions be directed in his memory to: The Mike Herndon Automotive Scholarship Fund, Care of the Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center, 1069 Thunderbolt Drive, Walterboro, South Carolina 29488. For those that so desire, memorial messages and thoughts of condolence, as well as memorable recollections of Mr. Herndon may be shared with the family at the online guestbook, www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com. Family and friends are invited to call from 6 o'clock until 8 o'clock this Thursday evening at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston