Obituaries

Celeste Glinn Herndon of Charlotte, NC died at home on Saturday, March 20 surrounded by her family, close friends and her loving dog and cat after a courageous fight with lung cancer.  Born in Charlotte, NC in 1958, she was the daughter of Marion E. and Sara Pritchard Herndon. 

Celeste graduated from Carmel Academy in 1976 and attended Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC where she majored in Physical Education.  She left college to go to work in occupational and workplace safety.  She graduated from Central Piedmont Community College in December 1997.  

Celeste worked in security at the Mint Museum of Art and  the Charlotte Public Library downtown.  She most enjoyed the many years she worked at McClintock Junior High in Charlotte.  She loved sports and had the opportunity to substitute one semester for a Volleyball Coach, and coached the girl’s team to a championship that year. 

Celeste who was also called “CC” enjoyed being with close friends, and when she could not be with them she loved IM’ing and texting them.  She was fun and loved to laugh; her giggle was contagious.  She was happiest when she was helping others.  She enjoyed cross-country motorcycling at “the farm” and later cruising on her Honda Gold Wing.  She wrote poetry to help her through life’s challenges.  She collected “Mighty Mouse” items, the cartoon character that she loved as a kid.  She loved singing with the choir in her church, the Spiritual Living Center in Charlotte, NC, formerly the Center for Positive Living.  She loved it that she was always a welcomed member of the Choir at her church and was grateful for the love and support the Spiritual Living Center gave her in difficult times. 

Celeste is survived by her sisters, Harriet Herndon Owsley of Charlotte, and Sally Herndon  of Clayton, NC, her brother in-law Reed Owsley of Charlotte, nephew Conor Owsley and his wife Katie of Kinston, NC and their children Cameron, Kat, and Mac Owsley, her niece Sara Ellen Owsley of Portland Oregon, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.   

A Celebration of Celeste’s life will be held Friday, March 26, 2010 at 11am by Celeste’s church family - the Spiritual Living Center at their Meeting Location: The Actor's Theatre of Charlotte 650 E. Stonewall St., Charlotte, NC 28202.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Spiritual Living Center of Charlotte at http://slccharlotte.com/, Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region, http://www.hospiceatcharlotte.com/, or 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC, 28204 or to the North Carolina Alliance for Health, http://www.ncallianceforhealth.org/, for their work of protecting North Carolinians from the hazards of secondhand smoke. 

J. B. Tallent Funeral Service is serving the family.