Comora "Tootsie" Adelia Watson Herndon               April 29, 2023

Comora “Tootsie” Adelia Watson Herndon

December 27, 1929 – April 29, 2023

Comora “Tootsie” Adelia Watson Herndon, 93, went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 29, 2023. She was a resident at The Harbor Memory Care facility in Stanardsville, VA. Comora was born near Peter’s Mountain just east of Barboursville, VA on December 27, 1929 to Robert Lewis Watson and Hattie Gibson Watson. She always identified as being a “mountain girl” rather than simply a country girl. Growing up on the mountain with her family and extended family living nearby shaped her life and character in many ways; love of family and friends, gratitude, humility, responsibility and hard work. After graduating from Orange High School in 1948, Comora continued her employment at William’s Store in Barboursville. In May 1950, she married Everette Herndon and after a brief honeymoon to Natural Bridge, VA the couple eventually settled on family property near Eheart’s Corner. This would become her home for the next 70 years. Comora was a devoted wife, a loving mother to four sons and a wonderful homemaker. Over the course of her working life, she drove a school bus for the Orange County Public School system and was employed with Virginia Farm Bureau for many years. She was a member of the Barboursville Ladies Auxiliary and a member of a local home economics club which she chaired for many years. Comora was a life-long member of Barboursville Baptist Church. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of 19. She faithfully served her church in many roles including the nursery, Sunday School teacher, vacation Bible school, choir, served on various committees and was the church treasurer for many years. She was also the first woman to be an elected deacon at Barboursville Baptist. Comora was a prayer-warrior and sought to the needs of family and friends through her time, generosity and giftedness. Comora was a fabulous cook and gifted seamstress. When an emergent sewing need came knocking at the door, she would gladly stop what she was doing to take care of a pair of pants or to stitch a loose seam. As a Boy Scout mom, she sowed hundreds of merit badges to sashes, including patches and other insignia not only for her own sons but for many of the boys in the troop as well. Her real passion was spending time in the kitchen creating wonderful meals or just having coffee with family or friends. Her specialties included home-made rolls, coconut pie, German chocolate cake, deviled eggs, and, of course, her famous fried oysters. Her baked and canned goods routinely won blue-ribbons each year at the Orange County Fair. She loved her community, her friends, her church and her family. Comora was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-six years, Everette; her brother Edgar “Eddie” Watson and sisters Amanda Lawson, Ellen Eubank and Gertrude Roberts. She is survived by her children, Everette L. Herndon, Jr. and wife, Robin of Va. Beach, Mark A. Herndon and wife, Carolyn of Orange, George L. Herndon and wife, Cindy of Madison, Edgar O. Herndon and wife, Julie of Newport News; five grandchildren, Sarah Sydnor and husband Raphael, Adam Herndon and wife, Jessica, Bryan Herndon and wife, Jami, Evan Herndon and wife, Amy and Ashley Faust and husband, Edward; and nine great-grandchildren, Sophia, Henry and Everette Sydnor, Ayden and Lilah Herndon, Gabriel Faust, Levi, Luke and Maggie Herndon. The family would like to express their gratitude and appreciation to the staff at The Harbor and Heartland Hospice for their care, friendship and devotion to our mother over these past few years. Her life and resurrection celebration service will be held at Preddy’s Chapel in Gordonsville, VA on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 2PM. Family visitation will begin at 1PM prior to the service. The family requests any memorial contributions be made to Barboursville Baptist Church, P. O. Box 87, Barboursville, Va.  22923 in her memory.