Charlene Herd

Charlene Herd’s love of life did not come to an end with her death. Charlene passed away on March 31, 2022, at the age of 85 in Louisville, Kentucky, after a brief but courageous battle with esophageal cancer. She was surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

A lifelong learner who loved to teach others, Charlene was born Charlene Cecilia Carter in 1936 in Kentucky, to parents Cora and Charles Carter. Growing up around doctors developed her insatiable curiosity and passion for service. She excelled at math and sciences, graduating at the top her class at Atherton High School. Medical school was her dream, however, options for women were limited at the time.

Steadfastly, she dedicated herself to educating the young minds of the next generation of leaders. She started the first Montessori school in 1970’s in Syracuse, NY, loved teaching children, and had a knack for young, gifted ones especially.

She married Orvin Bennett Herd in 1956, during a beautiful celebration, and being a gifted seamstress, wore her own handmade wedding gown. They raised two active sons and granddaughter, Lisa. While she would do anything to protect her family, she was also a mother figure to any neglected child. Whether it was a child, a neighbor, or a friend, she would use her boundless resources and limitless knowledge of so many subjects.

She lived to be in service of others and had no regrets. She was considered the neighborhood angel and no matter what she was going through personally, she would jump at the chance to lend a helping hand to her neighbors in need. Charlene was a tireless worker, mother, educator, and entrepreneur – always working as many jobs “as it took” from sunrise to sunset. Her tiny frame was always on the go, a force that could not be contained.

Just a few hours short of a master’s degree and pilot’s license, she never shied away from adventure. Whether she was on the slopes, waterskiing, or flying planes, she met each moment with exuberance. Once she even won a dance competition by accident.

In her later years, Charlene flourished in her second career, tutoring children at St. Joseph’s orphanage, outreach ministry to nursing home residents, delivering meals to those that were homebound, and serving as a poll worker for 30 years. When she was not doing all of this, you could find her watching jeopardy, soaking in her tub, or working in her garden and pond.

She had been a long-standing member of Southeast Christian Church since their humble beginnings.

She is survived by her son, Mike Herd, granddaughter, Michelle Herd, five precocious great- grandchildren, along with her cousins, Jo-Claire Corcoran and Rita Ray-Epstein, Gloria Bryant, best-friend Patti Elder, and sister, Charlotte. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Orvin Bennett Herd, son, Stephen Herd and granddaughter, Lisa Herd.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on her behalf.