Extracted from The Laurel Leader-Call (Laurel, MS)
Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Phyllis Ruth Herrington

Phyllis Ruth Herrington, 51, of Smithtown, N.Y., died Friday, June 29, 2007, at her residence.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, with burial in Hebron Cemetery in Jones County. The Rev. Tommy Davis will officiate.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Andrew Peyton and Sally Myrtle Graves and William Phillip and Ora Ann Herrington.

She was born Jan. 14, 1956, to Patsy and Lamar Herrington of the Hebron community. She graduated from Mississippi School for the Blind, Jones County Junior College and the University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned a master's degree in history. She taught in the Jones County school system at West Jones High School. She traveled to Madison, Wis., where she worked for Raised Dot Computers and later moved to Louisville, Ky., where she worked for The American Printing House for the Blind. For the past 11 years, she lived in Smithtown, where she served as consumer outreach coordinator for the Guide Dog Foundation.

She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Smithtown and was involved in numerous activities to promote equal rights for the handicapped. She was a member of the Long Island, N.Y. Board for Visually Impaired. She reached out to everyone seeking her help. She lived her life visually impaired but overcame her handicap and was multitalented. She strived to help others achieve the same. She was an inspiration to all of her family and friends and acquaintances. She enjoyed life to the fullest and was blessed with many friends. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed canoeing, hiking, camping and horseback riding. She shared a love of reading and music.

She is survived by her parents, Patsy and Lamar Herrington of the Hebron community; a brother and sister-in-law, Randy and Denise Herrington of Ridgeland; a sister and brother-in-law, Beth and Reid Ware of Florence, Ala.; nieces and nephews, Reid and Mary Beth Ware of Florence, Ala., Peyton Herrington of Flowood, and Elizabeth and Daniel Root, Michel Herrington, Andrew Herrington and Joseph Herrington, all of Ridgeland; special friends, Barbara Kaiser and Kim Stasheff, both of Smithtown, N.Y., and Jean Hinton of the Hebron community.

Memorials may be made to the Guide Dog Foundation in Smithtown, N.Y., or to the American Cancer Society.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. today, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, which is in charge of arrangements.