Kirke L. Herman

Deacon Kirke L. Herman of Little Rock, Arkansas passed away on October 18, 2015. His passing was tranquil, serene, and cloaked in the love of family at his bedside. Shortly before his passing he received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick in the Catholic tradition, the family prayed a rosary and he received the Apostolic Pardon. This was a blessed tradition for a man whose devotion to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, family, friends, and his community were incomparable. His story begins with his family; he was born on September 23, 1928 in Mobile, Alabama to Alex Herman and Inez Hill Herman. He was preceded in death by his parents, his lovely wife Pearl, his daughter Debby, and his son Michael. He is survived by his two sons, Kirke "Rocky" (Teresa) Herman of Little Rock, Ark. and Alex "Tank" (Dianne) Herman of Sugar Land, Texas; one sister, Alexis Herman of Alexandira, Va. and a daughter-in-law, Johnnie M. Herman of Denver, Colo. Deacon Herman was also grandfather to Jon-Michael Herman of Little Rock, Ark., Rafanee Herman of Atlanta, Gaa., Rita Baldwin of New York, N.Y., as well as Gavin Herman and Jeremiah Herman of Little Rock, Ark. Deacon Herman is also survived by his great-grandson, Keaton Herman of Little Rock, Ark., and great-granddaughters, Taylor and Tamika Henry of El Paso, Texas. Deacon Herman was a lifelong member of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church. He attended The Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Mobile, Ala., and went on to graduate from Xavier University in New Orleans, La. There he was known as the "Mobile Magician" as a star running back for the Xavier Gold Rush Football Team from 1949 through 1951. It was also at Xavier that he met the love of his life, Pearl LeMay. They were married August 6, 1951 in New Orleans, La. Deacon Herman was an educator at Jones High School in North Little Rock, where he was a coach and teacher. He went on to be an administrator for the Economic Opportunity Agency; he served for a number of years in the Arkansas General Assembly as a Senate Sergeant at Arms. And for many years he worked with the John Walker Law Firm. Deacon Herman was actively involved in the political process and voter advocacy in Arkansas. He was a man of a strong and a pure faith, compassion, and immeasurable love for his family and community. His faith and commitment to Jesus Christ and his church were demonstrated in his commitment to be ordained one of the first of two African American Permanent Deacons of the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock (State of Arkansas). For many years he was a Bible Study leader at St. Bartholomew, as well as an RCIA Instructor, a founding member of the Little Rock Service Organization The Imperials Inc. Social Club, and a Knight of Peter Claver. He received numerous awards throughout his life for his contributions to making his church and community a better place. A special thank you to Sister in Law Pam Mercer, "Uncle" Bruce and Jeanette Swinton, and Sarah Robinson. Deacon Herman loved all kinds of sports and enjoyed the entertainment provided by Oaklawn Park. Many friends will miss his kind words of wisdom, his warm smile, and of course his famous gumbo. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 7th and Louisiana, Little Rock with the Rev. Anthony Taylor, Bishop of Little Rock and Father Warren Harvey, Celebrants. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday (today) in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 5800 W. 12th St., Little Rock (501) 661-9111. Memorials may be made to St. Bartholomew Men's Scholarship Fund, 1622 Marshall St., Little Rock, Ark. 72202. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.