West Chatham Chapel
Mrs. Celestia Dugger Herrin
October 19, 1916 - Augsut 11, 2009
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Celestia Herrin, age
92. Celestia died on August 11, 2009 after a short illness under the care of Hospice
Savannah. Celestia was descended from the Salzburgers, who are part of Georgia history.
She was raised in Savannah and graduated from Commercial High. She worked as a
legal secretary as a young adult. She moved to Pooler as a bride where she became a very
active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. She was a Trustee on the
Administrative Board, taught Sunday School for many years and was a long time,
self-appointed greeter. She was involved in many other activities in the Church and a
very active member of the Methodist Women's ministry. She was voted Mother of the
Year by the congregation in 1957. She loved the Lord and was a faithful servant. At the
time of her death she was the oldest member of the Church. She was a former member of
the D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution) and a former member of the Pooler
Garden Club. Celestia was an excellent cook. She enjoyed sewing and crocheting. She
crocheted everyone in the family a beautiful, heirloom afghan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Talmadge Wardlaw Dugger and Ruby Hunter
Dugger and her husband, Lewis Harmon Herrin, Sr. Celestia outlived three siblings, a
brother, Harold Dugger, two sisters, Inez Barnes, and Edith Bragg.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Linda Waters (Wade, d. 2009) of Pooler,
Josie Adams of Statesboro, Frances (Bill) Thompson of Sylvania and Lewis Herrin, Jr.
(Debra) of Pooler; her grandchildren, Diane, Timothy, Vincel, Dara, Janna, Dean, (d.
2007), Matthew, Stacey, Lara, and David, Devin, and Leah will greatly miss their
grandmother. There are 12 great-grandchildren, Zach, Chris, Jessica, Geneva, KJ, Kelly,
Rebecca, Maggie, Kaylee, Emma, Matalyn, and Kenneth who will also miss their GG.
She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank Nancy Bunton for her tender, loving care during Mother's
illness. We wish, also, to thank Denise, Pat, and Marva for their special care of Mother
during the last weeks of her life.
Mother believed the youth of any Church was its future. She loved and cherished
children. At her request, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Scholarship
Fund of Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 602, Pooler, GA 31322 or to
Hospice Savannah, P.O. Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416.
The visitation for Mrs. Herrin will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at the
Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, West Chatham Chapel in Pooler.
The funeral to celebrate Mrs. Herrin's life will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2009 at
Trinity United Methodist Church. Mrs. Herrin will lie in state from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
at the Church. Rev. Randy Nease will officiate. The active pallbearers will be Chris Hendrix, David Herrin, Matt Thompson, Vincel Adams, Tim Adams, Brian Czech, Darren Harrison and KJ Sinclair. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Gleaners Sunday School Class. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Abbey East Cemetery on Wheaton Street in
Savannah. When you were born, an angel smiled. As you became a child, an
angel sat on your shoulder. When you became an adult, an angel held your hand. As you
grew old, an angel walked down the road with you. And when you died, another angel
got their wings.