Obituary

Rev. Fred Thomas "Bishop" Herring





A Time And A Season

And the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my race, and I have kept the faith.



A Time To Be Born

Rev. Fred T. Herring was born in Wilmington, North Carolina on April 14, 1931. He is the elder child of Marshall James and Mary Elizabeth Herring and the brother to Milton, Marshall, Mary Elizabeth (deceased) and Gwendolyn. He moved to Washington, DC in 1949.



A Time To Learn

He received his primary and secondary education from the New Hanover County public school system in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he graduated from Williston High School. He continued his education receiving his Associate Degree in Biblical Studies from the Andersonville Theological Baptist Seminary with the goal of obtaining a Doctorate in Biblical Studies. On December 15, 1974, Rev. Herring was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Upper Room Baptist Church in Washington, DC. He was ordained to preach the Gospel on September 26, 1976 by a council of Baptist Ministers at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Suisun, California. Later, Rev. Herring joined Mount Sinai Baptist Church where he served under the leadership of Pastor David Durham. Since that time he has been instrumental in planting several churches throughout the DC Metropolitan area and has served as a pastor. In 1992 Rev. Herring joined the Fort Foote Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Joseph W. Lyles where he was given the honorary title of "Bishop"; he has held, with high distinction, several positions. Rev. Herring was serving as an associate minister and the Director for the Prime Timers' Ministry which ministers to senior citizens.



A Time To Love

Rev. Herring married Clara Herring DeVaughn and was blessed with five children, Fred Jr,. Calvin, Sharon, Tyrone and Robin. He also has two adopted sons Fred A. and Kenneth M.



Rev. Herring married Grozelia Wright Stepney August 15, 1987 and added five more children to the family, Kirk A., Constance M., Paula F., Denise G., and Arthinia M. They would have celebrated their 24th year of marriage.



A Time To Live

Rev. Herring retired on December 2, 1994 from the Federal Government after serving for 42 plus years as a loyal and dedicated employee. He was the first African American to serve as Chief of the Federal Protection Agency, General Services Administration, on a national level. He served five years in the US Naval Reserves and eleven years in the DC National Guard where he attained the rank of Sergeant First Class.



Rev. Herring served as a team leader and consultant with the DC Baptist Convention for the Baptist Men's Ministry, Royal Ambassadors and Challengers, Chairperson of the Finance Committee, and Conflict Transformation Team. He is the past President of the DC Baptist Convention where he worked with the Executive Director/Minister to ensure that "Vision 2010: Congregations Cooperating in Missions" became fully implemented in the one hundred and fifty congregations throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area. He served on the Mid-Atlantic Cooperating Council as the Disaster Relief State Director He was the first African American to serve in this capacity for the organization. He served on the National Cooperating Council of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Chairperson for the Local Arrangement Committee 2007 Biennial Meeting of the American Baptist Churches, USA, Director of the Johenning Baptist Community Center, Baptist Association of Christian Educators, American Association of Christian Counselors, National Association of the Advancement of Colored People, and other professional, civic, and religious organizations too numerous to mention.



A Time To Mourn

Rev. Herring joined our Savior on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 10:45 p.m. He leaves to honor and cherish his memory his loving wife, Grozelia Herring; four sons: Fred Jr. (Ann), Calvin (Delia), Tyrone (Avater) and Kirk; two adopted sons: Fred and Kenneth; six daughters: Sharon (Chester), Robin (Edward), Constance, Paula, Denise (Willie), and Arthinia (Steve); one sister, Gwendolyn (Richard); two brothers: Milton and Marshall (Bobbie); twenty-five plus grandchildren, twelve plus great-grand children, and a host of family and friends.

The Viewing for Rev. Herring will be held from 6:00pm until 9:00pm on Monday, May 2, 2011 and on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 from 10:00am until time of Homegoing Service, 11:00am at Fort Foote Baptist Church, 8310 Fort Foote Road, Fort Washington, Maryland. His Interment will be in National Harmony Memorial Park Cemetery in Hyattsville, Maryland.