Carl Herrin

Mr. Herrin was born March 30, 1925 in Durant, MS to the late Jasper Carl Herrin, Sr. and Lennie Mae Burrell Herrin.

At 17, Mr. Herrin joined the U.S. Navy serving for three years during World War II, two of those in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946. In June of 1946, he enrolled at the University of Mississippi on the GI Bill and graduated with honors in 2 ½ years. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity, where he served as President. He was also a member of the Inter-fraternity Council and Delta Sigma Pi, an honorary business fraternity.

Upon graduation and needing a job that would provide him a car, he went to work as a body shop adjuster for Motors Insurance Company, a division of General Motors. In 1951, Mr. Herrin, along with his brother Sidney Herrin, opened Herrin Bros. Dodge in Lexington, MS. He married the former Nancy Ann Tatum of Durant, MS in 1952. Then in 1954, Mr. Herrin joined Milner Enterprises. Working in a management capacity, they lived in several cities including New Orleans, LA, San Antonio, TX, Kansas City, MO and Jackson, MS. They returned to New Orleans in 1965 where he opened his own dealership, Carl Herrin Chevrolet. In 1968, having the opportunity to come back to Mississippi, he and George Gear opened Herrin-Gear Chevrolet. The dealership grew to include Lexus, BMW, Toyota and Infiniti.

Mr. Herrin was an active member in numerous professional and civic organizations. He held many leadership positions, including President and Director of the Jackson Automobile Dealers Association; President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association; state Chair of the National Automobile Dealers Association election action committee and Chairman of the Chevrolet Dealers Council. He was appointed by the Governor to be a member of the MS Trade Advisory committee and was past Director of the MS Better Business Bureau. In addition, he served as Chairman of the Board and was on the Board of Directors of MS Diversified for many years. In 1979, Mr. Herrin was named a TIME Magazine Quality Dealer Award winner, one of only 68 dealers in the nation selected for this honor. He also served as an advisory board member of the Salvation Army, as well as, President of the advisory board for two years. He was also a member and past President of the Country Club of Jackson and a founding member of Annandale Golf Club.

Mr. Herrin was an avid golfer and shot his age on several occasions. He was a strong supporter and fan of the Ole Miss Rebels and a longtime member of the University of Mississippi Loyalty Foundation, as well as a member of the Vaught Society. He and his wife Nancy, enjoyed the many friendships from their Lunchbunch Supper Club, comprised of 14 couples, that started 50 years ago. He was a loyal and longtime member of Northminster Baptist Church.

Coming from very modest means, Mr. Herrin believed strongly in the value of education in order to have an opportunity to succeed. In 2011, to help students who may experience financial hardships, he and his wife created the Carl and Nancy Herrin Scholarship Endowment at the University of Mississippi, which provides 10 need-based scholarships annually. He felt very blessed to be able to help those less fortunate. He was a man of abundant generosity and high integrity.

Besides being a devoted husband and father, he was an especially proud and loving grandfather and great-grandfather.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Sidney Herrin. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy Tatum Herrin, son, Jack T. Herrin (Leigh), daughter, Holley H. Noblitt (Don), three grandchildren, Tatum Goodman (Gray), Scott Noblitt (Carolyn) and Carly Herrin; one step-granddaughter Laine Flannigan (Billy); four great-grandchildren, Herrin Goodman, Wade Goodman, Hart Noblitt, Holden Noblitt; step-great grandchild Finn Flannigan and special friend and caretaker, Ann McCollum.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Carl and Nancy Herrin Scholarship Endowment, c/o The University of Mississippi, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677; Northminster Baptist Church, 3955 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS 39211 or the charity of your choice.

Visitation will be at Northminster Baptist Church on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 from 4 – 6 p.m. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday,

January 21, 2015 at Northminster Baptist Church with visitation prior to services at 10 a.m. Private burial will follow service.