06/07/2024
Remembering Bill Drake’s “Awake with Drake” partner, Thomas (Tom) Manley Herndon.
February 5, 1938 — May 31, 2024
Boiling Springs
Thomas (Tom) Manley Herndon, 86, of Boiling Springs, died Friday, May 31, 2024, at Spartanburg Medical Center. A native of Bennettsville, SC, he was born on February 5, 1938, a son of the late Kenney and Mildred Evelyn Pratt Herndon.
He retired in Radio Sales and Management, starting his career in 1955 at WBSC in Bennettsville, and then worked in Winston Salem, NC, Taylorsville, NC and North Wilkesboro, NC. He moved to Spartanburg and worked with WORD, WKDY and WSPA, before retiring as co-owner and partner with Bill Drake at “Awake with Drake”. He was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church where he served as a Lector, a member of the Knights of Columbus Council # 6076 4th degree, Grand Knight of the 3rd degree and Faithful Navigator of the 4th degree. He was a member and past president of the Spartanburg Luncheon Optimist Club, past Lt. Gov. to the SC Optimist District and a former member and president of the Jaycees in Bennettsville, SC.
Surviving is his wife, Elizabeth Freno (Betty) Herndon; daughters, Nancy Newton Lynn (Greg) of Inman and Amy Elizabeth Johnston (David) of Boiling Springs; sons, Paul Richard Newton of Washington, DC, and Jeffrey Thomas Herndon (Megan) of Chattanooga, TN; grandchildren, James Thomas Lynn, William Connor Lynn (CiGi Curry), Kristopher Jordan Johnston, Claire Elizabeth Laws (Shawn), Kenneth Michael Emory Herndon (Miranda Jones)and Gerik Matthew Johnston; sister, Martha Claire (Motsy) Campbell (Tommy) of Laurinburg, NC and several nieces and nephew. He was predeceased by his brothers, Brian Douglas Herndon and Michael Bruce Herndon.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, June 8, 2024, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 290 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302 conducted by the Rev. David R. Whitman. A reception will follow the service in the Parish Life Center. Honorary es**rt will be members of Knights of Columbus Council #6076.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 161 N. Dean Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302 or the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen, 136 South Forest Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306.
An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com
Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel
Craig Debolt
