Velma Cole Herd

Velma Cole Herd, 97, passed away peacefully at home in Madison, AL, August 21, 2021. A native of McCormick, SC, she was the daughter of the late Crayton B. and Mamie E. Jones Cole, and the widow of Hershel D. (Dick) Herd. She was predeceased by her daughter, Chyerl Herd.

The baby of 10 children growing up in upstate South Carolina, she was a proud graduate of Welcome High School in Greenville.  She would brag about her early job as a soda jerk in a local pharmacy. In 1947, she married the love of her life Hershel, who she called “Huck” but who everyone else called “Dick”.  The family moved with Hershel’s job from Greenville to Belton, SC to Spartanburg, SC, where she settled in raising three boys (and several bulldogs).  She spent many hours with the youth of First Baptist Church in Belton and, later, was devoted to Southside Baptist Church in Spartanburg.  She reflected her devotion to Jesus in all parts of her life.  Her love story with Hershel ended on this earth way too soon with his death in 1977, but she kept busy in her church (where she honed her ceramic skills) and as a volunteer with Mobile Meals.  She left her beloved South Carolina in 2007 and moved to Madison, AL, when keeping up her own home became too burdensome.  To keep on her good side, you dare not say anything bad about the Atlanta Braves (never missed a televised game), the South Carolina Gamecocks (making her anti-Clemson), and Duke University basketball (had a secret crush on Mike Krzyzewski).  She loved going to the Madison Senior Center daily, particularly on bingo days when a “cover-all” victory would bring the biggest smile to her face. Her family and friends meant so much to her, even though the last year meant more phone calls and Zoom time than face-to-face visits.  An enjoyable day for her was Starbucks (White Chocolate Mocha with Vanilla), a Braves game on TV, and a coloring or word search book in her lap.  When her heart finally gave out, she peacefully passed after watching a Braves' victory, sitting in her recliner, pencil still in hand as she was coloring. 

She is survived by her sons Michael Herd (special friend Brenda) of Beaufort, SC, Randy Herd (Janet) of Madison, AL, and Richard Herd (Amy) of Simpsonville, SC. She is also survived by grandchildren, Chad Collins (April) of Florence, SC, Casey Duffy (David) of Beaufort, SC, Andrew Herd (Monica) of Papillion, NE, Amanda Herd of Huntsville, AL, Arina Herd of Simpsonville, SC, and 8 great grandchildren. 

Visitation will be held at 1 pm EDT, Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Mauldin United Methodist Church, 100 E. Butler Road, Mauldin, SC 29662. The memorial service will follow at 2 pm at the church. A private burial will be at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Greenville, SC.

The family suggests sending memorial contributions to Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, 419 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC, 29302, or online at mobile-meals.org.