A Requiem Mass for Mr. James Willard Herndon will be celebrated at 11 am on Monday, August 12, 2013 at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, under the care of GEORGE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER, Aiken. The family will receive friends from 10:00am-10:45am prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary Help of Christian Catholic Church, PO Box 438, Aiken, SC 29802. Mr. Herndon, 96, of Aiken, passed away on Thursday, August 08, 2013 in Columbia. Born in Danville, Virginia, he was a son of the late Joseph Emmett and Mary Jane Jamerson Herndon. A graduate of the University of Virginia he served his country in the Merchant Marines during WWII. Mr. Herndon worked as a chemical engineer for I.E. Dupont at the Savannah River Plant and retired after 30 years. He and his wife, Shirley, raised their 5 children in Aiken. He was a communicant of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a little league baseball coach, an enthusiastic supporter of all of his children's athletic and academic activities. He was a volunteer with charitable organizations, an avid reader and bridge player. Mr. Herndon was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was preceded in death by his mother and father; his wife of 54 years, Shirley Nason Herndon; a brother, Joseph Emmett Herndon and a son, John Christopher Herndon. Surviving are four children, Richard Herndon of Tampa, Florida, Peggy Ashley (Dr. James P. Ashley) of Columbia, Nancy Seddinger (Billy) of N. Myrtle Beach and Dan Herndon (M.C.) of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Allison Timms of Atlanta, Austin White (Abe) of N. Myrtle Beach, Park Ashley of Columbia, Margaret Ashley of Dallas, Texas, Bryan Ashley of Charleston, SC, James Herndon of Miami, Florida, Joseph Herndon of Miami, Florida, Michael Herndon (Cira) of Melbourne, Florida, Loren Dillon (Jim) of Tampa, Florida, Ritchie Herndon of Bellville, NJ, Bryan Herndon (Yari) of Burke, Virginia, and Sarah Herndon of Mt. Vernon, Illinois. And many great-grandchildren. The family wishes to thank Carol Felton and NeNe Jackson, for their loving care, kindness and companionship in his final years.