Amy Frances Burdeshaw Herring

Amy Frances Burdeshaw Herring, 66, of Montgomery, died Tuesday, April 18 following a brief illness. A native of Headland in Houston County, Amy covered politics for The Montgomery Advertiser after graduating with a degree in journalism from Troy University.

It was covering politics at the beginning of her journalism career that made her next assignment a natural. After assisting former Senator Jim Bennett with his successful campaign for Alabama Secretary of State, Amy became Assistant Secretary of State and later was one of the first women in Alabama to start her own contract lobbying firm.

Always full of life, she was happiest when entertaining. She loved having friends over and was an excellent chef. She also loved to travel the world with her partner of many years, Winston (Windy) Leavell.

If you traveled with her, you knew you’d never have to make a dinner reservation. She had already taken care of them all, researching the restaurants and aiming for an autographed, frameable menu and a photo with the chef when she came across an especially good one.

Although she grew up proudly as an only child on a family farm, Amy always said she went to college so she wouldn’t “have to worry about when it rains.” She was proud of having grown up in the country, but the city life always suited her better and she was prodded early on for not owning any “casual clothes.” Later in life she curated a more relaxed dress code, even adding a few sneakers to the mix.

She loved New Orleans and its infamous restaurants like Gallatoire’s, Arnaud’s, Antoine’s and Brennan’s. Some would say these are some of the world’s greatest institutional restaurants that offer not just a wonderful meal, but shared experiences and memories. Just like these restaurants, Amy was fun, interesting, and effervescent. All those who knew her were entranced by her ability to make every person feel worthy and loved.

Amy sparkled in her own right and also had a love for things that sparkled, like fine jewelry and champagne. Her vocabulary was sharp but intentionally clever and could be absolutely devastating to the uninitiated, especially those who didn’t pick up on her sharp humor and sarcasm, often steeped in some political history of which they were unaware. She was old school. After a good night of work she took a drink. After a bad day, maybe two.

On her final day on Earth she was doing what she loved to do – planning yet another party. She took care of and supported her friends through personal and political trials, jury trials, career challenges, job changes and filibusters. When acting on behalf of her friends, she would routinely gather up “her people,” make soup, have a drink or launch a personal political movement for a friend in need. Amy was a good friend to those who loved her, and that’s how she would like to be remembered.

She is survived by her longtime partner, Winston (Windy) Leavell of Montgomery, her precious dog, Maggie, and a multitude of friends she called “family.”

Friends who wish to contribute in her memory, please consider your favorite charitable organization.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Leak-MC.com for the Herring family.