Mary Loucinda Newman Herrington, 84, of Columbia, passed away on May 31, 2026. Born April 12, 1942, in Anniston, Alabama, to Lincoln and Irene Newman, Loucinda displayed a remarkable musical talent from an early age. Following her childhood years in Alabama, the family moved to Lucedale, Mississippi, where she became an accomplished pianist, flutist and singer. She was a true coloratura soprano, selected by competitive audition for The Metropolitan Opera as a senior in 1960. Rather than pursue a performance career in New York, she married Ronnie Herrington in 1961 and devoted her life to family and music education.

Loucinda and Ronnie started their family in Pascagoula before moving to Columbia in 1966, where she became choral director at Columbia High School while Ronnie served as the CHS band director. Together they became beloved pillars of the arts community. In 1978 she founded the school's musical theater program in collaboration with the CHS band, the speech department led by Mary Jean McKay, and the local dance studio Ecole de' Dance, led by Yvette Johnson.

Their inaugural production, the Broadway show, Li'l Abner, launched a performance tradition which continues to the present day. In 2015 a new CHS arts facility was built and named Herrington Hall in recognition of the couple's decades of collaborative service to the arts and education. She is survived by her husband and children: Ronald (Chip) Herrington of Mobile, Alabama; Benjamin L. Herrington (Alisa) of Hartford, Connecticut; Katherine Bennett (James) of Birmingham, Alabama; and two granddaughters, Sophie Herrington of Minneapolis and Isabella Herrington of Atlanta. 

A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Hathorn Funeral Home. The family will receive guests at noon prior to the service.