Bette Herrington

A woman of faith with an infectious smile and a gift for encouragement, Bette Bowman Herrington passed away at home surrounded by family on November 5, 2014 following a thirteen-month battle with cancer. She was born in Ruleville, MS on January 14, 1947 to Verdie Lee and Grady Lee Bowman. One of seven children, she learned the importance of family and sacrifice while growing up in the Mississippi Delta. Bette was a 1965 graduate of Ruleville High School where she served as head cheerleader and was named Miss Ruleville High School. She later studied at Mississippi Delta Community College. Bette was married to Lester Herrington on July 30, 1966 and gave birth to her only child, Les Herrington, in Greenwood, MS on March 1, 1972. After living in Tupelo, MS from 1972 to 1982, she and Lester moved to their current home in Brandon, MS. She was an active member of First Baptist Church, Brandon, MS, where she served in various church ministries as well as assisting her husband in teaching a couples Sunday School class for 31 years. Bette proudly worked in the insurance industry for 30 years, and she served as Mississippi’s Insurance Woman of the Year from 1991-1992. Although a loving wife and mother, Bette’s greatest joy was in spending time with her two grandchildren, Trey and Anna Katherine Herrington. Bette’s favorite pastimes were reading and spending time with her Explorers Bible Study group, but she also had an avid love of the outdoors and enjoyed hiking and running competitively. While she had to eventually hang up her running shoes, Bette was a staple at her local exercise club where she participated in daily circuit classes well after her diagnosis and treatments had begun. Although her official cheerleading days ended in 1965, Bette used that same energy and exuberance throughout her life to encourage and exhort family, friends, and those around her to achieve and push beyond their perceived limits. The Bible verse she often quoted to strengthen and inspire others was 2 Timothy 1:7- “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” (NIV) Her quiet grace and strength will be missed, but her family rejoices that she has been forever healed and united with her Savior. Bette was preceeded in death by her parents, and is survived by: her husband of 48 years Lester; her son Les (wife Michelle); grandchildren Trey and Anna Katherine; sisters Nola Smith (husband Charles), Debbie Duke (husband Neal), Virginia Cowley, and Tammie Goodin (husband Mike); brothers Eugene Bowman (wife Tere) and Donny Bowman (wife Donna); twenty-seven nieces and nephews; a plethora of grandnieces and grandnephews; and numerous great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. Her loving spirit and life of joyful service to her Lord, her family, and her friends will be celebrated at an 11 am service on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at First Baptist Church, Brandon’s West Campus located at 175 Boyce Thompson Drive in Brandon, MS immediately followed by burial at Brandon Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held at Ott & Lee in Brandon from 5 pm to 8 pm on Friday, November 7, and at FBC Brandon from 10 am until shortly before the funeral on Saturday, November 8. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Brandon Building Fund, Baptist Children’s Village or the charity of your choice.

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