Nashville mourns the passing of two pillars of community: Latrisha Jemison and William F. ‘Sizwe’ Herring, Jr.

Latrisha Jemison

Latricia Jemison is known for her work with Regions Bank, but is better known for her work within the community that she loved. 

A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Tennessee State University, Latrisha was a senior vice president at Regions Bank in the Nashville area, where she had lived most of her life.

Jemison has helped establish financial education programs for at-risk youth, a college-to-career program for Tennessee State University students, and affordable housing opportunities for low-income families. She has chaired the Nashville Barnes Housing Trust Fund Commission, served as trustee for American Baptist College, and was a long-time member of the Minority Enterprise Development Week Steering Committee.

Jemison passed away on December 28, 2023. She is survived by husband, Roderick Jemison; children, Joseph Stewart, Trevin (Markida) Sherrod, Roderick Jemison, Jr.; daughter, Destiny Huntley; grandson, Trevin Sherrod, Jr.; mother, E. Arlene Stewart; brothers, Thomas (Tonya) Stewart, Jr., Lorenza (Latrice) Stewart; and numerous, nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

William F. ‘Sizwe’ Herring, Jr.

Noted environmental and social justice leader, Sizwe Herring, passed away on January 04, 2023.

Sizwe Herring was the director of EarthMatters Networks Tenn. for the past 20 years. He established EarthMatters Tennessee, an organization that encourages recycling, composting, and other environmentally friendly practices, as part of his efforts to better Nashville neighborhoods.

Whereas, by offering services and goods to protect the environment, EarthMatters Tennessee is a coalition of environmental educators, young people, and organizations that work to improve the community and people’s lives.

Mr. Herring, a senior counselor for the Kids To The Country program and a volunteer at the EarthMatters community garden and composting site, always made time for his community.

He worked as a campus center supervisor at Tennessee State University. He was a model student in achieving ecological objectives and encouraging an appreciation for the environment because of his love for ecology.

Herring was a pillar of the community, teaching gardening to all ages, young and old, through G.R.A.C.E. He was also a coordinator of Carver Food Park in Nashville, Tennessee.

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