A celebration of life will be held for Nellie “Nita” Herrington, 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 11, at Topisaw Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may come for a time of visitation at Topisaw from 5-8 p.m., Monday evening, March 10 and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday.
Mrs. Herrington, 87, of Ruth, MS, completed her journey with us on March 7, 2025. She was born on January 27, 1938, in Brookhaven, MS, to John Winfred Douglas and Thelma Case Douglas. Mrs. Nita was a member of Topisaw Baptist Church.
Proverbs 31:28 says, “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
Nita Herrington, better known as MawMaw Nit, wholeheartedly loved the Lord and demonstrated her faith through her daily life. She was a woman of love, loyalty, and devotion, both to her family and her Savior, Jesus Christ. Some may call her life simple, but it was a beautiful example of unwavering commitment—to her faith, her loved ones, her church, and her community. The love she shared was a reflection of her deep relationship with Christ, the foundation of her life.
She cherished her family unconditionally and often said, “My grandchildren have no idea how much I love them.” Nothing brought her more joy than caring for her loved ones, and she considered it an honor to cook for and serve her husband. She and her husband, John Albert, of 69 years built a life centered on faith and love, serving as a model of a strong and faithful marriage.
For over 40 years, she found joy in playing the piano at church, considering it both an honor and a privilege. Her heart belonged to her home, her church, and her community, especially in Topisaw, Enterprise, and Lincoln County.
A 1956 graduate of Enterprise High School, Nita remained a dedicated supporter of her beloved school. She was a member of the basketball team and Homemakers of America, passions that remained with her throughout her life. Even beyond her own playing days, she enthusiastically supported her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in their sports and activities, often adopting others to cheer on as well.
Homemaking was her way of showing love through her hands. Whether quilting, gardening, canning, cross-stitching, sewing, or cooking “real” lemon pie, cornbread dressing, and baking coconut cakes. She poured love into everything she did. She devoted herself to building a home filled with warmth and care—work that may not always have been seen by the outside world but was deeply felt by those she loved. Her faithfulness is simply because she appreciated and honored how faithful God had been to her.
Nita Herrington leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, and devotion that will live on through the countless lives she touched. She will be deeply missed but forever cherished in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Johnny Douglas and David Douglas; sister, Janie Bailey; and grandson, Scott Johnston, Jr.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 69 years, John Herrington; children, Stacie Raiford (Ronald), Sondra Johnston (Scotty), Angie Tate (Wayne), and Al Herrington (Lisa); brothers-in-law, Moris Ray Herrington and Roger Dale Herrington; sister-in-law, Doris Fay Teaster; 10 grandchildren, Lance Raiford (Marsha), Adam Raiford (Bailey), amber Haralson (John), Ashley Leggett (Jesse), Chase Raiford (Bailey), Leighton Tate (Sidney), Trey Herrington (Heidi), Trent Herrington (Hannah), Taylor Herrington (Andrea), Allison Hudson (Spencer); great grandchidlren, Kelly Grace, A.J., Harleigh, Johna Claire, Nick, Mary Anson, Susanna, Leigh Ellen, Maylee, Jiliah, Eleanor, Jayse, Slayden, Presley, Jasper, Macy, John, Tucker, Clay, Evelyn, Anna Lauren, Sam, Stella, Savannah, Meredith, Maddyn, John Tate, Dylan, Parker, Riggs, Jack Taylor, Ripp, Mac, and Reed.
