Mary Charlotte Ledent Richel Herring left our realm December 6th, 2021. She was born to Charles and Marie Theresa Richel on October 7th, 1928 in Verviers, Belgium. She and her family endured Nazi occupation during World War II.
She met her future husband in 1945, Jess R. Herring was a corporal in the 78th Infantry Division who helped liberate her village, and was recuperating from a wound in a field hospital in Verviers. They married in 1947 and she came to the United States.
Mary worked at WKRG TV as promotion manager and personal secretary to C. P. Person for 30 years. She then taught French at Arnold School for 20 years and loved her students. She volunteered for the Mobile Opera Guild & Workshop under Mme. Rose Palmer Tensor and was a long-time participant in the Mobile International Festival, representing her native country of Belgium. She especially enjoyed dancing and performing with the Polish Dancers.
Mary was predeceased by her husband Jess in 2015, her parents, and sister Berthe Caro.
She is survived by daughter Colette (Stoney) Compton, son Charles (Karen) Herring, granddaughters Kari (Christian) Williams, and Jessica Herring, nephews Philippe Caro, Serge Caro, and niece Pascale Caro, all of Belgium.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8PM on December 17th, 2021 at the Chapel of Pinecrest Funeral Home. Graveside service and interment will be at 12PM December 18th, 2021.
Pallbearers: Chuck Uren, Varin Nimityongskul, Charles Herring, Christian Williams, Simon Cruz Haggery, and Greg Vrachalus.
Honorary pallbearers: Starkey Hicks, David Bayne, Roger Sims, and Stoney Compton.
