Verna Mae Herndon

Mrs. Verna Mae Herndon, age 90, of Lyons, died Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at her residence surrounded by her family.  She was a native of Baker County and was a 1950 graduate of Baker County High School in Newton, Georgia, a member of the state championship basketball team, and that year enjoyed her trip to Washington D.C.  She moved to Toombs County in 1952, attended Brewton-Parker College, and was a licensed practice nurse.  She worked for Dr. Herbert A. Conner for twenty-five years, and later at Meadows Memorial Hospital until her retirement in 1992 after a total of forty-two years in nursing.  Also, she and her husband were owners of Precious Personal care Home in Vidalia.  After retirement, Verna founded Herndon’s Market in the Toombs Central area in 1993.  Her most loved job was at the market, where she met people from all over the country, who returned year after year to purchase her peanut brittle and Vidalia Onions.  She was a member of Hardens Chapel United Methodist Church.  Later in her life, she enjoyed sitting around with her family, more especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, learning about what was going in their lives. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lyman Guy “LG” Herndon; her parents, Silas Francis Heard and Charlie Mae Powell Heard; and seven siblings, Kathleen Heard Fisk, Earlene Heard Rentz, R.L. Heard, Jack Heard, Wayne Heard, Frank Heard, Jr. and Gary Heard.

Her family includes three children, Bruce Herndon and wife Brenda of South Thompson, Joette Gay and husband Eddie, and Bo Herndon and wife Gill, all of Lyons; one brother, Joe Heard and wife Nancy of Newton; nine grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be Sunday, November 20th, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Dannie Williams officiating.  Burial will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens. 

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon from 1:00 until just prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Notchaway Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Chris Moore, 5486 GA Hwy 253, Colquitt, GA 39857 or Toombs County Treatment and Recovery Program, 400 Durden St., Vidalia, GA 30474.  

The family is most grateful to Sherry Foskey for loving support during the last few months.

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