Mattie Herring Palmer, 80, of Hope Mills, passed away from this earth on Saturday, May 14, 2011. Mattie was born on December 9, 1930 in Columbus County to Parents Joseph Clifton Herring & Annie Ruth Stone-Herring. Mattie graduated high school & joined the United States Army in 1950 & served as a nurse. She met her husband , James Arthur Palmer at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital, Denver, Colorado who was also serving in the Army. They married in 1959 & had 2 children. She is survived by her sons, James Arthur Palmer, Jr & Marc Herring Palmer of Hope Mills. Mattie was a wonderful, loving wife & mother & will be remembered for her devotion for family. Her love of life brought happiness & cheer to all who knew her. While serving in the Army, she played basketball & won many tournaments. She enjoyed serving her country & the travel opportunities it allowed her. She had many fond memories of being stationed in Germany, and traveling through Europe by rail. After leaving the service to start a family she continued to travel as an Army wife. The family was stationed in New Jersey, Okinawa, Colorado, and New Jersey again, before settling in North Carolina. When her husband retired she went back to work at the Fayetteville Kidney Center where she worked as an instructor until she retired. Mattie was a member of Arran Lakes Baptist Church in Fayetteville. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Dorothy Herring Grimsley & Janice Herring Jordan, brothers, J.C, Laddie Pal, & David Herring. The family received friends Monday May 16, 2011 from 6pm to 8pm at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 2pm today, Tuesday, May 17, 2011 in Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jeff Isenhour officiating. The burial will be Wednesday at 11am in Post Cemetery on Fort Bragg, NC, off Randolph Street. She is survived by her sisters, Hilda Byrd & husband James of Wilmington, LaVaughn Simmons & husband Alton of Albemarle, Sandra Horne & husband Milton of Hope Mills, & Carolyn Hall & husband Johnny of New London & brother-in-law, Truman H. Palmer of Merritt Island, Florida. Mattie had numerous nieces & nephews who she loved very much. Special mention to Jean Clark of Hope Mills who was a dear friend to Mattie & her family. She will be missed by all who knew her & the people she blessed. A very special thanks to Sandra Horne for taking care of our Mother in her last days.