L. Edward Herndon was "Floridian" in every sense of the word. Born in Madison County, he grew
up in the piney woods area of this great state. At the age of 17, he married Miss Luene Bass and
the Herndons settled into the local community. L. E. had felt a call to preach, but was not ready
to make the commitment necessary to be a Methodist minister. He tried farming and other odd jobs,
but there was always an unfulfilled need in his life.
In 1946, he made the final decision to enter the Methodist ministry and began the necessary
preparation. He was one of the first male students to graduate from the former Florida Womans
College, renamed Florida State University. He continued his preparation at Emory University, and
was admitted on trial in 1949. His pastoral assignments were Leon Circuit; West Madison Circuit;
Apalachicola; Havana; Highland Avenue, Tampa; Alachua; Holden Heights; Kathleen-Lake
Gibson; Bushnell-Center Hill; retired 1978.
The Herndons retired to Arcadia to be near their daughter Betty Ann Douglas and their three
grandchildren. L. E. served as a supply pastor to churches in the area as needed. They traveled
in their motor home several weeks a year enjoying seeing much of the country as long as he was
able. He died in the DeSoto Memorial Hospital, Arcadia, Oct. 4, 1991.
Funeral services were held in Madison, FL, with Rev. Kevin P. Mclaughlin, pastor of Pinetta United
Methodist Church and Rev. Vernon E. Queen, retired. Interment was at Mt. Horeb Cemetery,
Madison County.
Submitted by: Vernon E. Queen