James Wilson Herring Sr., 90, of Fayetteville passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2015 at his residence.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Jernigan-Warren Chapel. His brother, the Rev. Billy Herring will officiate. Burial will be private at Lafayette Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.

Born in Lumberton in 1924, Mr. Herring moved to Fayetteville in the 1930s when his father, Foster Harvey Herring, was hired to oversee the operations of the Post Exchange dairy on Fort Bragg. He resided here for the remainder of his life leaving only for service in the U.S. Navy during World War II where he served on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theater. Upon his return to Fayetteville, he began working in the automotive parts and repair business, a vocation he continued to follow into his seventies.

A lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Spring Lake, Bonnie Doone Presbyterian Church and Peace Presbyterian Church. He was a kind man, a gentle soul and a compassionate friend.

Mr. Herring was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Viola Darroch Herring.

He is survived by his daughter, Karen Pittman and husband, Bruce of Raeford; his son, Colonel James W. Herring, Jr. and wife, Janice of Alexandria, Virginia; brothers, Rev. Billy Herring and wife, Olivia of Dunn and Rev. Dewey Herring and wife, Allie of Concord; sisters, Eula Mae Walker of Fayetteville and Rosa Horne and husband, Al of Fayetteville; granddaughter, Jennifer Basham and husband, Brian of Raeford; and great granddaughter, Reagan Basham.