James Herring

Service Details

Celebration of Life : Tuesday, December 7, 2021 10:00am – 11:00am

Location: Chapel of Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home, 4600 County Line Rd., Racine, WI.

Order Flowers from Family Selected Florists

Losing a loved one is never easy. Our dear beloved relative, James Herring, left us on October 31, 2021 after an illness and went to his heavenly home to join the only mother he knew, Catherine Bolton.

James, of Sacramento, California was 51 years old. He was born on February 19, 1970 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Bernice Herring. Because of life circumstances, his birth mother was unable to take care of him. His “adopted mother” Catherine quickly stepped in and took the infant to raise.

He grew up in the early part of his life on an Alabama farm, surrounded by a close-knit, loving family of cousins, where everyone looked after him.

As the years went by, he moved around the country with his mother – to Racine, Wisconsin, then, California and Ohio, then, finally settling in California, where his brother and cousin, Clarence Bolton, became his fulltime caretaker.

James’ life was one of safety, security, and comfort. He liked playing basketball at the YMCA in Racine and fishing for perch and catfish His other hobbies included drawing and painting portraits.

He attended schools in Racine and in Stockton and Sacramento. He also was homeschooled for awhile.

He was a serious Wendy Williams fan and loved singing on the karaoke machine and watching anything with Michael Jackson. When he wasn’t watching his favorite singer Vanessa Williams, he was watching Mexican shows and music videos.

His mother Catherine Bolton preceded him in death in December, 2017. His biological mother, Bernice preceded him in death in 2013. An older sister named Gladys also died in infancy.

He is survived by four biological siblings, Johnny Lee, Connell, Jerome Herring and Joseph Bolton.

He also is survived by his adopted family, sisters Fannie Brandenburg (Danny) Trotman of Rosedale, New York and Lellia James Blair of McKinney, Texas;  brothers Arthur (Margaret), Bossie (Angelee), John Earl and Willie Jr., (Roberta), all of Racine; Clarence of Sacramento and Earnest Lee (Georgia) of Toledo, Ohio. He also is survived by cousins and other relatives too numerous to count.

James Herring, age 51, passed away on October 31, 2021 in Sacramento, California. A Celebration of His Life will be held on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 10:00am – 11:00am in the chapel of Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home, 4600 County Line Rd., Racine, WI. Interment will take place in Graceland Cemetery.

Masks must be worn at all times while in the funeral home.