COLUMBIA, MISSISSIPPI — The communities of Columbia and Hattiesburg are in deep mourning following the sudden passing of Clare Herring on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. She was 30 years old.
Known for her vibrant personality, fierce athletic grit, and an unwavering devotion to her faith, Clare was a radiant pillar of her community. To those who knew her, she was a “noticer”—a rare soul who actively sought out the underdog, loved with extraordinary intensity, and lived out her belief that gratitude should always precede a request.
An Elite Track & Field Legacy at Columbia Academy
Before becoming a transformative leader in her local community, Clare was a standout track and field athlete for Columbia Academy. Competing in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) conference, her athletic career was defined by raw determination, speed, and exceptional versatility.
During her memorable 2011 outdoor track season, Clare proved herself to be one of the top hurdlers in the MAIS AA division:
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100m Hurdles: Captured an elite personal best (PB) time of 17.84 seconds at the MAIS Overall State Track Meet on April 30, 2011.
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300m Hurdles: Dominated the track with a podium-caliber finish, clocking a personal best of 51.55 seconds on the state stage.
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Relay Powerhouse: Anchored elite relay flights for Columbia Academy, including the 4x100m, 4x200m, and the state-qualifying 4x400m relay team alongside teammates Anna Wilkes and Greta Carley.
Biographical & Athletic Summary: Clare Herring
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Hometown : Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Resided : Columbia, Mississippi
Alma Mater : Columbia Academy High School
Athletic Specialty : MAIS State Finalist (100m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles)
Church Affiliation : Woodlawn Church
Parents : Wayne and Latta Price Herring
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Moving Pews: A Powerhouse for Faith and Redemption
While coaches and peers remembered Clare as “tough as nails” on the track, her local community knew her grit was simply a shield for an incredibly gentle, fragile, and giving heart.
A definitive milestone in Clare’s life occurred in 2018, the day she was baptized at Woodlawn Church. Loved ones recall it as the moment she felt completely made new, frequently sharing a beautiful testimony of God’s redemption over her life that moved whole rooms to tears. Her impact on her home church was unprecedented.
“This girl brought ten people to be baptized with her that morning,” shared close friend Julee Rutledge in a moving online tribute. “We used to tell everyone that Clare Herring had single-handedly filled up three pews with her testimony. Nearly every service for years, I’d turn around to see her at the altar area and I’d get a big hug and an ‘I just love you!’ from her.”
Clare’s spiritual wisdom guided her daily life. Her family recalls a quote she frequently shared with her loved ones, Ollie and Mamie Herring, which perfectly encapsulated her spirit: “Before you ask God for anything, thank him for everything.”
A Generous Cousin, Teacher, and Friend
Beyond church and athletics, Clare left behind a pristine record of quiet, unseen kindness. Her cousin, Ginny Warren Kemp, recalled keeping a handwritten note from Clare by her bedside for years—a letter sent spontaneously by Clare during her high school graduation season simply to thank her cousin for being a supportive teacher.
In family circles, Clare was legendary for her playful energy and deep devotion to her relatives. Her cousin, Harley Herring, fondly remembered family gatherings where Clare would drop everything to play with the younger children, once lightheartedly hiding a young cousin on the top shelf of a closet during an intense game of hide-and-seek. Her cousin Hunter Herring echoed this sentiment, stating, “She was always the kind of person who would drop whatever she was doing just to come spend time with me.”
Clare is survived by her devoted parents, Wayne Alanceson Herring and Latta Price Herring, alongside a massive, tight-knit network of extended family, cousins, and friends who are holding onto faith during an unimaginable hour of grief.
Community Support and Scripture
As the Herring and Price families navigate this sudden tragedy, the local community has banded together in prayer, anchoring themselves in the words of Isaiah 55:8–9: “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.”