WILMINGTON — Carroll Newkirk Herring passed away peacefully January 15, 2025, surrounded by her family at the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center, Wilmington, NC. She was born September 2, 1936, daughter of Hugh Carroll Newkirk, Sr. and Margaret Peschau Newkirk in Wilmington, NC.
She is predeceased by her parents, her beloved husband, Robert Everett Herring, Sr., sister Elizabeth “Liz” Newkirk Connery, brother Hugh Carroll “Kirk” Newkirk, Jr., sisters-in-law Janet Newkirk and Sheila Herring and brother-in-law Larry Henderson.
Carroll was raised in Wilmington and graduated from New Hanover High School in 1954. She attended Western Carolina College and returned home to care for her ailing mother. Soon, thereafter, she married the love of her life, a young man and summer love, Robert Herring from Burgaw. They married in 1955 and soon went to Killeen, Tx where Robert was stationed with the US Army as a Military Policeman. Returning to Wilmington, they began working and welcoming children. They shared a love of traveling on many of Robert’s business trips, traveling on their own and going to the beach in the summers. They were married and spent 61 years together until Robert’s death in 2016 at age 81.
In 1973, she started the first homecare company in Southeastern North Carolina called Eldercare Convalescent Services, later changed to Eldercare At Home, a private-duty home care service. This was a business derived from the understanding of the need to provide care to loved ones so that they could live out their last years at home. As with her own mother, she saw the need and began the training and education of friends, neighbors and church friends to provide care for the elderly in their homes. She worked with Cape Fear Tech, at the time, to start the first certification course to instruct caregivers. This is what started the first Certified Nursing Assistant program for our community. She grew her business and worked day and night. She loved her employees, in the office and in the field providing the care. Her employees were incredibly loyal to her. Such a foundation exists that Eldercare proudly employs second and third generation home care workers today.
As important as her business was to her, more important was her family, friends and her church. She was greatly involved in her children’s activities and lives. She also, thoroughly enjoyed her grandchildren’s activities as some loved music, others played sports and others liked designing. She also enjoyed her many friends throughout her life. She attended St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church as a young girl but was a lifelong member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She was a devoted member of the choir and served the church in many ways. Her other great fondness was being a member of the American Business Women’s Association and the Cape Fear Marbella Charter Chapter.
Carroll touched the lives of thousands of people in the community. She helped many people in need throughout her life. Helping people was her goal in life. Many of us were blessed by her leadership, guidance and faith throughout her life.
She is survived by her children, Robert Everett “Robin” Herring, Jr., (Sharon), Suzanne Herring Goudarzi (Hormoze), Russell Davis Herring (Betsy), Tina Herring Manrique (Ricardo).
She also leaves eight grandchildren, Roxanna, Rebecca (Diego) and Cyrus Goudarzi, Andrea Manrique Becker (Doug), Alexander Manrique (Chelsea), Alexis “Lexi” Herring Weldon (Sam), Katherine “Katie” Herring (Hunter) and Caroline Herring and a step grandson, Steve Guyton. Blessedly, four great grandchildren survive but many more to come.
Also surviving are brothers-in-law, Bob Connery, Morris Herring and Jim Eyerman, sisters-in-law Karen Newkirk, Kay Henderson and Janice Eyerman and many loving nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the exceptional healthcare provided by Dr. Hormoze Goudarzi, Dr. Raja Bhat and Dr. Belinda McPherson throughout her life to her final journey. We would also like to say a special thanks to the compassionate care and unwavering dedication and kindness from the staff and Caregivers of Eldercare At Home and The Davis Community. Special thanks to the staff of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare on making her final days filled with respect, comfort and moments of genuine warmth and peace.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 24 at 2:00pm at St. Andrews Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1416 Market Street with Reverend Katie Harrington officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Chapel.
In lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church or to a charity of one’s choice.
