-- — Arthur Herndon Jr., 89, of Lakeland passed away Monday, July 9, 2012 in the Langdale Hospice House.  He was born in Lakeland, Ga., on February 16, 1923 to the late Arthur and Ruby (Powell) Herndon Sr. As one of the pioneers of the real estate business in Valdosta, Arthur Herndon, Jr. built his career from a one person business into the thirty-three person business it is today.  When he was 17, he started his career working for the Hercules Powder Company in the Lease and Survey department.  During the time he was employed there, Mr. Herndon married the former Jimmie Lee, his childhood sweetheart.  The couple was married for 64 years and blessed with four wonderful children.  In 1949, after five years with Hercules, he was employed by the Lanier County Board of Education.  Cotton States Insurance Company contacted him in 1949 and contracted him as an insurance representative.  In 1950, he and his family moved to Atlanta and he worked in the Cotton States home office.  During this time, he received a law degree from John Marshall Law School and also worked at HUB Ford dealership on weekends.  In 1953, Mr. Herndon moved back to Lanier County and opened an insurance agency which later became “The Herndon Company,” an insurance and real estate company.            

Since the first shingle was hung, Mr. Herndon always tried to exemplify quality service built on outstanding ethics. Herndon’s values of service-before-self were closely aligned with his support of the Methodist Church, Methodist Children’s Home, Magnolia Manor Retirement Home, Louis Smith Memorial Hospital Foundation, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Masonic Lodge, United Way, and supporting a cure for multiple sclerosis. A life-long member of The Lakeland United Methodist Church, Herndon received significant recognition from the Board of Trustees and the Administrative Board at the Lakeland United Methodist Church. His involvement at the Lakeland church was broad and impacted the life of the church through his service on various committees, Sunday School Superintendent, and his 65 year membership in the church choir.   Herndon’s service to the church on the local, district and conference level of the church was commended in a 1994 church resolution.

After becoming semi-retired from full association with the realty firm, Herndon was honored by the National Association of Realtors with the coveted Emeritus Award.  Herndon was named the “BIG Thinker” by the Valdosta - Lowndes Chamber of Commerce in 2010. The award is given each year to a “self-made, visionary and successful entrepreneur who cares and gives back to his or her community.” He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Jimmie Lee Herndon, daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn Herndon and William “Bill” Pelham, brother and sister-in-law, James and Betty Jane (Moore) Herndon and sister, Essie Herndon Smith.

Survivors include a daughter, Wynn Herndon of Valdosta, Ga.; sons and daughter-in-law, James Lee and Cindy Herndon of Lakeland, Ga.; Jackie Herndon of Lakeland, Ga.; 9 Grandchildren; 17 Great-Grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Mr. Herndon’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 11, 2012 in the Lakeland United Methodist Church with the Rev. V.L. Daughtery, Rev. John B. Carroll, and Rev. Devin Schultz officiating. A committal service will be held at 2:30 p.m.  in the Arabi Primitive Baptist Church with burial in Arabi Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday night, July 10, 2012 from 5:30 p.m.to 7:30 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lakeland United Methodist Church, 340 West Main Street, Lakeland, Ga.,  31635 or Langdale Hospice House c/o SGMC Foundation, P.O. Box 1727, Valdosta, Ga.,  31603.   Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com.  — Music Funeral Services of Lakeland.