Jeffrey Paul Herrin

Jeffrey Paul Herrin

ROCKY MOUNT - Jeffrey Paul Herrin, 60, passed away March 4, 2019, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. After Jeff defeated cancer many years ago, the illness returned last year and took Jeff way too soon.

Jeff was born March 13, 1958, in Albemarle, N.C., the oldest of three boys. After brief moves to New York and Durham, the Herrin family settled in High Point, where Jeff's parents, John and Alice, still live today. In addition to his parents, Jeff is survived by his wife, the love of his life, Susan Perdue Herrin, of Rocky Mount; children, Jake Herrin, of Rocky Mount, and Lindsay Herrin, of Cleveland; brothers and sister-in-law, Eric and Diane Herrin, of High Point, and Greg Herrin, of Charlotte; nieces and nephews, Mark, Kelli, Kimi, Lauren and Brooke; and host of beloved friends and family.

Jeff Herrin was the editor at the Rocky Mount Telegram for 25 years before retiring last year to spend more time with his family. He started his newspaper career in the late 1970s as a sports stringer at the High Point Enterprise, while attending Appalachian State in Boone, N.C.

That's where he met Susan - at a bar called the Library Club. They were walking toward each in the crowded bar, when fate stepped in and caused Jeff to accidentally knock Susan to the ground. Without thinking of the consequences, he helped her up and asked her to dance. By the third dance, Jeff was smitten. "I've never met a girl who can talk trash as well as a guy," Jeff blurted out. That's how it started. After five years of dating and 36 years of marriage, Jeff still was smitten by his Susie to the end.

After two years in Boone, Jeff transferred to the University of South Carolina, where he earned his journalism degree. He started full time at the High Point Enterprise after graduation, starting as a beat reporter and moving up to the editor's post. He spent nearly a decade there, starting his family, before leaving for the managing editor's position at the Opelika Auburn News in Opelika, Ala. In his first year there, the paper won 17 press association awards. Two years later, in 1993, Jeff packed up the Herrins and moved to Rocky Mount, where he spent the next 25 years molding young reporters and copy editors into award-winning journalists.

Jeff was best known in the public at the Telegram for his columns. Focusing on relatable issues, Jeff pieced together stories in which his passion on the subject was apparent to all who read it. Whether it was about his mother-in-law's devotion to her mother or Susan's battle with breast cancer, Jeff's columns resonated with the readers in the Twin Counties.

Jeff was loving, fair, generous and intelligent. He had a good heart, and he left his mark on so many people he met - particularly former employees who still talk about how Jeff took a chance on a rookie reporter looking for their first journalism job. But it was his love of music for which he is remembered by many people. Music was Jeff's life. He used it to express many of his feelings. He used the lyrics of his favorite musician, Bruce Springsteen, to first tell Susie how he felt about her. Too shy to say it himself, he played "Thunder Road" for her, telling her that the song said things that he couldn't.

"And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken. But tonight, we'll be free, all the promises' will be broken."

Jeff passed down his love for music not only to his children, but many young reporters he mentored over his career. And he turned his passion for music into a way of meeting new people through an online music community. Sharing their passion for all music, Jeff participated in a Saturday Night Listening party in which people across the country gathered via text or online to share their passion for music. The group met over the years at various sites, including Cleveland and Asheville.

That's when Jeff was most happy, making memories with his family and friends. He made sure that the people in his life knew how important they were - not just to him, but important in general.

A Celebration of Jeff's Life will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Chaplain Mike Crenshaw officiating. Visitation with the family will follow the service in the Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home until 4:00 PM.

The Herrin family would like to thank Donisa Smith with Kindred at Heart home health and Kim O'Neal and Jackie Howell with Hospice of Rocky Mount for making his final days comfortable and meaningful.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Go Fund Me Account re Jeff Herrin https://www.gofundme.com/a-beautiful-river-in-the-valley-ahead.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.

As published in the Rocky Mount Telegram