Roy Herron
September 30, 1953 - July 9, 2023
Roy Herron, 69, was a force of nature. Devoted family man. Attorney. Public servant. Writer. Teacher. Ironman triathlete. He lived a large and faithful life.
An attorney from Dresden, Roy had clients from around the State of Tennessee and the region. Roy was in the Tennessee General Assembly for 26 years, where he became senate floor leader and caucus chair for the Democrats. For more than a quarter of a century Roy held over 1,000 listening meetings and attended every legislative session, missing only one day when his youngest son was born. In 2010, Roy was the Democratic nominee for U. S. Congress (8th Congressional District) and he chaired the state Democratic Party from 2013-2015.
Roy Herron graduated the University of Tennessee at Martin and, in 1980, was one of the first two students to earn joint law and divinity degrees at Vanderbilt University. Herron was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1980 and was an adjunct faculty member at both UTM and Vanderbilt. He was also the author of four books.
Herron's legislative career focused on healthcare, public education, consumer protection and victim's rights, but his legislative interests and contributions were vast. Roy fought to make healthcare available to all Tennesseans and, along with others, convinced the legislature to ban smoking in public places to fight the effects of secondhand smoke. He sought always to protect children, the working people of Tennessee and those who were disadvantaged. As his longtime friend, Joe Hill, said, Roy's advocacy for the "least of these" is also his legacy.
Roy was an athlete. The Boston Marathoner completed more than 40 marathons and ultra marathons. Roy completed 11 Ironman triathlons, each time swimming 2.5 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles. He was training for another Ironman scheduled for the week-end before his 70th birthday this September.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Grooms and Mary Cornelia Herron, his sister, Betsye Herron Hickman, and his brother, Dean Herron.
Roy is survived by his wife, Nancy Carol, his sons Rick Herron, John Herron and Ben Herron, his brother Ben Herron, his nephews Richard Herron, Jim Herron, Will Kinton (Melissa) and Sean Dugan, his niece Erin Dugan, sisters-in-law Diane Herron and Jan Dugan (Dennis), as well as great nieces Taylor Rose, Shelby (Jess) and Lindsey (Mitul) and great nephew Zeb.
Roy also had Herron cousins who loved him like a brother, including Martha (Jim), Carolyn, Nancy (Gene), Jim (Allison), Thom, Betsy, Emily (Danny), Zadie, Catherine (Margaret), Ross, James (Allie), Jacob, Ben (Liz), Cameron, Sean, Neil and Lana, as well as many, many friends who were like family.
Roy passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2023, due to injuries he received in a jet ski collision on Saturday, July 1. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, July 14th at the First United Methodist Church in Martin, Tennessee, and from 11-2 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. The service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, following visitation. Burial will be at Sunset Cemetery in Dresden.
The Martin Methodist Church will be offering livestreaming by going to www.martinfumc.org .
In lieu of flowers family request memorials to:
The Volunteer Center
c/o Mark Maddox
P.O. Box 5
Dresden, TN 38225
Vanderbilt University Cancer Center
c/o Nancy Miller-Herron
P.O. Box 5
Dresden, TN 38225
Dresden First United Methodist Church Building Fund
105 S Church Street
Dresden, TN 38225
cc Murphy Funeral Home
September 30, 1953 - July 9, 2023
Roy Herron, 69, was a force of nature. Devoted family man. Attorney. Public servant. Writer. Teacher. Ironman triathlete. He lived a large and faithful life.
An attorney from Dresden, Roy had clients from around the State of Tennessee and the region. Roy was in the Tennessee General Assembly for 26 years, where he became senate floor leader and caucus chair for the Democrats. For more than a quarter of a century Roy held over 1,000 listening meetings and attended every legislative session, missing only one day when his youngest son was born. In 2010, Roy was the Democratic nominee for U. S. Congress (8th Congressional District) and he chaired the state Democratic Party from 2013-2015.
Roy Herron graduated the University of Tennessee at Martin and, in 1980, was one of the first two students to earn joint law and divinity degrees at Vanderbilt University. Herron was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1980 and was an adjunct faculty member at both UTM and Vanderbilt. He was also the author of four books.
Herron's legislative career focused on healthcare, public education, consumer protection and victim's rights, but his legislative interests and contributions were vast. Roy fought to make healthcare available to all Tennesseans and, along with others, convinced the legislature to ban smoking in public places to fight the effects of secondhand smoke. He sought always to protect children, the working people of Tennessee and those who were disadvantaged. As his longtime friend, Joe Hill, said, Roy's advocacy for the "least of these" is also his legacy.
Roy was an athlete. The Boston Marathoner completed more than 40 marathons and ultra marathons. Roy completed 11 Ironman triathlons, each time swimming 2.5 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles. He was training for another Ironman scheduled for the week-end before his 70th birthday this September.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Grooms and Mary Cornelia Herron, his sister, Betsye Herron Hickman, and his brother, Dean Herron.
Roy is survived by his wife, Nancy Carol, his sons Rick Herron, John Herron and Ben Herron, his brother Ben Herron, his nephews Richard Herron, Jim Herron, Will Kinton (Melissa) and Sean Dugan, his niece Erin Dugan, sisters-in-law Diane Herron and Jan Dugan (Dennis), as well as great nieces Taylor Rose, Shelby (Jess) and Lindsey (Mitul) and great nephew Zeb.
Roy also had Herron cousins who loved him like a brother, including Martha (Jim), Carolyn, Nancy (Gene), Jim (Allison), Thom, Betsy, Emily (Danny), Zadie, Catherine (Margaret), Ross, James (Allie), Jacob, Ben (Liz), Cameron, Sean, Neil and Lana, as well as many, many friends who were like family.
Roy passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2023, due to injuries he received in a jet ski collision on Saturday, July 1. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, July 14th at the First United Methodist Church in Martin, Tennessee, and from 11-2 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. The service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, following visitation. Burial will be at Sunset Cemetery in Dresden.
The Martin Methodist Church will be offering livestreaming by going to www.martinfumc.org .
In lieu of flowers family request memorials to:
The Volunteer Center
c/o Mark Maddox
P.O. Box 5
Dresden, TN 38225
Vanderbilt University Cancer Center
c/o Nancy Miller-Herron
P.O. Box 5
Dresden, TN 38225
Dresden First United Methodist Church Building Fund
105 S Church Street
Dresden, TN 38225
cc Murphy Funeral Home
Roy Herron
September 30, 1953 - July 9, 2023
Roy Herron, 69, was a force of nature. Devoted family man. Attorney. Public servant. Writer. Teacher. Ironman triathlete. He lived a large and faithful life.
An attorney from Dresden, Roy had clients from around the State of Tennessee and the region. Roy was in the Tennessee General Assembly for 26 years, where he became senate floor leader and caucus chair for the Democrats. For more than a quarter of a century Roy held over 1,000 listening meetings and attended every legislative session, missing only one day when his youngest son was born. In 2010, Roy was the Democratic nominee for U. S. Congress (8th Congressional District) and he chaired the state Democratic Party from 2013-2015.
Roy Herron graduated the University of Tennessee at Martin and, in 1980, was one of the first two students to earn joint law and divinity degrees at Vanderbilt University. Herron was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1980 and was an adjunct faculty member at both UTM and Vanderbilt. He was also the author of four books.
Herron's legislative career focused on healthcare, public education, consumer protection and victim's rights, but his legislative interests and contributions were vast. Roy fought to make healthcare available to all Tennesseans and, along with others, convinced the legislature to ban smoking in public places to fight the effects of secondhand smoke. He sought always to protect children, the working people of Tennessee and those who were disadvantaged. As his longtime friend, Joe Hill, said, Roy's advocacy for the "least of these" is also his legacy.
Roy was an athlete. The Boston Marathoner completed more than 40 marathons and ultra marathons. Roy completed 11 Ironman triathlons, each time swimming 2.5 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles. He was training for another Ironman scheduled for the week-end before his 70th birthday this September.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Grooms and Mary Cornelia Herron, his sister, Betsye Herron Hickman, and his brother, Dean Herron.
Roy is survived by his wife, Nancy Carol, his sons Rick Herron, John Herron and Ben Herron, his brother Ben Herron, his nephews Richard Herron, Jim Herron, Will Kinton (Melissa) and Sean Dugan, his niece Erin Dugan, sisters-in-law Diane Herron and Jan Dugan (Dennis), as well as great nieces Taylor Rose, Shelby (Jess) and Lindsey (Mitul) and great nephew Zeb.
Roy also had Herron cousins who loved him like a brother, including Martha (Jim), Carolyn, Nancy (Gene), Jim (Allison), Thom, Betsy, Emily (Danny), Zadie, Catherine (Margaret), Ross, James (Allie), Jacob, Ben (Liz), Cameron, Sean, Neil and Lana, as well as many, many friends who were like family.
Roy passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2023, due to injuries he received in a jet ski collision on Saturday, July 1. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, July 14th at the First United Methodist Church in Martin, Tennessee, and from 11-2 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. The service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, following visitation. Burial will be at Sunset Cemetery in Dresden.
The Martin Methodist Church will be offering livestreaming by going to www.martinfumc.org .
In lieu of flowers family request memorials to:
The Volunteer Center
c/o Mark Maddox
P.O. Box 5
Dresden, TN 38225
Vanderbilt University Cancer Center
c/o Nancy Miller-Herron
P.O. Box 5
Dresden, TN 38225
Dresden First United Methodist Church Building Fund
105 S Church Street
Dresden, TN 38225
cc Murphy Funeral Home
September 30, 1953 - July 9, 2023
Roy Herron, 69, was a force of nature. Devoted family man. Attorney. Public servant. Writer. Teacher. Ironman triathlete. He lived a large and faithful life.
An attorney from Dresden, Roy had clients from around the State of Tennessee and the region. Roy was in the Tennessee General Assembly for 26 years, where he became senate floor leader and caucus chair for the Democrats. For more than a quarter of a century Roy held over 1,000 listening meetings and attended every legislative session, missing only one day when his youngest son was born. In 2010, Roy was the Democratic nominee for U. S. Congress (8th Congressional District) and he chaired the state Democratic Party from 2013-2015.
Roy Herron graduated the University of Tennessee at Martin and, in 1980, was one of the first two students to earn joint law and divinity degrees at Vanderbilt University. Herron was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1980 and was an adjunct faculty member at both UTM and Vanderbilt. He was also the author of four books.
Herron's legislative career focused on healthcare, public education, consumer protection and victim's rights, but his legislative interests and contributions were vast. Roy fought to make healthcare available to all Tennesseans and, along with others, convinced the legislature to ban smoking in public places to fight the effects of secondhand smoke. He sought always to protect children, the working people of Tennessee and those who were disadvantaged. As his longtime friend, Joe Hill, said, Roy's advocacy for the "least of these" is also his legacy.
Roy was an athlete. The Boston Marathoner completed more than 40 marathons and ultra marathons. Roy completed 11 Ironman triathlons, each time swimming 2.5 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles. He was training for another Ironman scheduled for the week-end before his 70th birthday this September.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Grooms and Mary Cornelia Herron, his sister, Betsye Herron Hickman, and his brother, Dean Herron.
Roy is survived by his wife, Nancy Carol, his sons Rick Herron, John Herron and Ben Herron, his brother Ben Herron, his nephews Richard Herron, Jim Herron, Will Kinton (Melissa) and Sean Dugan, his niece Erin Dugan, sisters-in-law Diane Herron and Jan Dugan (Dennis), as well as great nieces Taylor Rose, Shelby (Jess) and Lindsey (Mitul) and great nephew Zeb.
Roy also had Herron cousins who loved him like a brother, including Martha (Jim), Carolyn, Nancy (Gene), Jim (Allison), Thom, Betsy, Emily (Danny), Zadie, Catherine (Margaret), Ross, James (Allie), Jacob, Ben (Liz), Cameron, Sean, Neil and Lana, as well as many, many friends who were like family.
Roy passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2023, due to injuries he received in a jet ski collision on Saturday, July 1. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, July 14th at the First United Methodist Church in Martin, Tennessee, and from 11-2 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. The service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, following visitation. Burial will be at Sunset Cemetery in Dresden.
The Martin Methodist Church will be offering livestreaming by going to www.martinfumc.org .
In lieu of flowers family request memorials to:
The Volunteer Center
c/o Mark Maddox
P.O. Box 5
Dresden, TN 38225
Vanderbilt University Cancer Center
c/o Nancy Miller-Herron
P.O. Box 5
Dresden, TN 38225
Dresden First United Methodist Church Building Fund
105 S Church Street
Dresden, TN 38225
cc Murphy Funeral Home
