Joan Herman

Joan Starr Herman VIRGINIA BEACH - Joan Starr Herman, "Starr," died Aug. 7, 2010 at the Hospice Care Center in Wilmington, N.C. She was 64 years old. A special thanks to all there, you did a wonderful job keeping her comfortable. Starr was a very accomplished and successful businesswoman. Commonwealth Conventions, her business, she started from scratch. She coordinated and oversaw some of the largest yearly conventions in the state of Virginia, serving both private companies as well as state organizations. Starr was the foundation, the rock of our family. She was not afraid to die, she knew her Lord, she just did not want to leave her beloved family and friends. We owe a debt of gratitude for all that we have learned from her. She was definitely persistent. Living in Quinby, a very small town on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, growing up there and graduating from Central High, she always cherished her roots. While attending the Medical College of Virginia she would grow up, mature and branch out. Her son, Lawrence, her granddaughter, Estrella, and daughter, Blair, were truly her reasons to be alive. She would return to the Shore often, and loved every moment being back there. The little church on the corner, a stone's throw from the family home, is where her faith was formed. She did not fully complete her "bucket list" but she and her husband, Robert, made dents. Our two cats, Ms. Meeks and Benny, were lucky beyond belief to have had Starr in their lives, something they never even realized. A very special thanks to Ruth, Linda, Frances, and all of our friends in the community for their special support at a very trying time. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Guy Warren, Mary Elizabeth Warren, and brother, David F. Warren. Starr is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Robert Herman; two sons, Lawrence Shotwell, wife, Frances; and Scott Herman, wife, Linda; daughter, Blair Turner, husband, Teddy; four grandchildren, Estrella Shotwell, Robert E. Turner, Riley Turner, and Selden Turner; her sister, Dawn Autry, husband, Gene; brother, J. Randall Warren, wife, Anna; along with several nieces and nephews. Williams-Onancock Funeral Home will facilitate the graveside service at the Quinby Cemetery located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice Life Care Center, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.andrewsmortuary.com.