Obituary of Herbert T. Follin

Herbert T. Follin, 80, died Monday, March 21, 2022, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. Born in Sumter in 1942, he was a son of the late John Epps Follin, Sr. and Maria Louise Geddings Follin. A member of the 1961 graduating class at Furman High School, he was a noted standout on the football team. A running back that combined both break away speed and the power to break tackles, he led Sumter County in both rushing yards and touchdowns his senior year. After turning down several opportunities to play college football, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served as a member of the Marine White House Guards during the presidency of John F Kennedy. Herbert was part of the military escort aboard Air Force One that accompanied President Kennedy to Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, the day Kennedy was assassinated. After living in Albuquerque following his time in the Marines, he returned to Sumter in the late 1980’s and remained a resident of Sumter the remainder of his adult life. Even at age eighty, he was still active in the lawn service business he operated. Surviving are a son, Herbert Follin, Jr. of Sumter; two daughters, Louise Follin of Sumter and Kara Follin of Palm Desert, CA; three brothers, Richard Follin (Dale), Jim Follin (Linda), and Terry Follin (Diane); three sisters, Lila Blackmon, Jean McIntosh and Lucy O’Hare (Tom) all of Sumter; and a step-daughter, Miriam Alcaraz of Sumter; seven grandchildren and one step-grandchild. He was preceded in death by a brother, John Follin. Memorial services will be held at 10 A.M. Monday in the Chapel of the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with Father German Coquilla, Jr., CRM officiating. Private burial with military honors will be held in the Florence National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or to Tunnel2Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306. On-line condolences may be made at www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.