Rev. Hansell Devan "H.D." Herndon

Rev. Hansell Devan “H.D.” Herndon went to sleep in the arms of the Lord on January 11, 2011, at age 78, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Smith Herndon, and three children: sons Kim and Jeff (Karen Gunter Herndon) and daughter Susanne Herndon Simpson (Stephen Simpson); nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, H.D. served in the United States Army as a radio operator from 1953-1955. After living in Memphis and Baton Rouge, he moved his family to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, in 1970, where he lived until his passing in Mobile, Alabama. H.D. worked as an insurance salesman and in the ice cream business before responding to God’s call to pastoral ministry in 1976. He was the President of the Gulf Coast Ministerial Association and a frequent religion columnist for the Biloxi Sun-Herald. He served as the Pastor of Coast Covenant Church in Ocean Springs from 1987-2002. H.D. Herndon said, “When God is in control of your life, every day is special.” Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 18, 2011, from 10 am until 12 noon, with a 12 noon chapel service, all at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Biloxi National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to Charles Simpson Ministries or Hidden Treasures Orphanage, both addresses being P.O. Box 850067, Mobile, AL. 36685.