MAMIE HERRING was born on January 27, 1935, to George and Idel Lewis in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Gratz High School where she was a member of the softball and volleyball teams. Mamie was a loving and dedicated mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother who left us on July 6, 2022. In an earlier relationship with Clarence Bell, Sr., Mamie had four children: Clarissa, Karen, Clarence Jr., and Cordelia (deceased). In the summer of 1968 Mamie married Jesse Herring, Sr., and a son and two daughters were born from this union: Jesse Jr., Marcelle, and Cynthia. Ms. Mamie, as many in the neighborhood called her, loved to laugh. She was a strong woman who did the best she could to raise and support her family. Mamie worked as a nurse's aide and in various food preparation jobs throughout her life. She was a long-time member of Resurrection Baptist Church and a dedicated member of the Pastor's Aide ministry for as long as she was able. During her last few years of living on her own, she enjoyed attending Mount Zion African Church of the United Brethren in Christ. She loved attending church services and participating in church activities. Though she loved God and enjoyed church, she also liked gambling. Her favorites were bingo, the lottery, and the casinos. She was always looking for that one big win. Family was most important to Mamie. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Often, she would watch some of the great The Obituary grandchildren while their parents were at work. She never missed an opportunity to love on them. Her home was a safe place for many. She shared her home with family and friends alike. Some were there for only a brief time, but others stayed with her for years, even raising some of their children in her home for a time. She provided each one with what they needed to eventually move on in life. After retirement, but while still living on her own, one daughter took over the responsibility of paying all of her bills and renovating the old house so that it would be much more comfortable for her to live in. After a stroke left her unable to live on her own, another daughter and her husband took Mamie into their home, where she would spend her last days. Though she was not able to express it, I know she was grateful for the help and assistance they provided. At the age of 87, Mamie departed this life peacefully with a number of her family members by her side. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her brothers, George and Frank, and her sisters, Christine and Maude. She was the last of her generation which weighed heavily on her. It hurt her one daughter's heart to see her at her last sister's funeral at the casket telling her to wake up. Mamie leaves to cherish her memory: sons, Clarence Bell (Mary Anne) and Jesse Herring (Sophia); daughters, Clarissa Bell, Karen Walker (Mervyn), Marcelle Herring, and Cynthia Swaringer (Kenny); grandsons, Alexander Bell, Tyrone Herring, Leonard Wright, Kendall Swaringer, Kenny Swaringer Jr., Laurenzo Williams, and Christopher Walker: granddaughters, Stacy Bell (Will), Rechee' Jennings (Muhammad), Teresa Melton, Shanice Bell, Deigh Herring, Trenishia Alphonse (Jacques); and a host of great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, relatives, and friends.