Mark Edward Herndon, beloved husband of Sandi and father of Lindsey and Madison, passed away unexpectedly following complications from a stroke on Dec 16, 2025. He loved his Lord Jesus and loved serving others as Jesus did. His last act of selflessness was giving the gift of life to many others through organ donation.

Mark was born in Smithville, Tennessee, on November 7, 1961, to Russell and Betty Jean Herndon. He grew up loving sports of all kinds, especially baseball and football. He enjoyed his youth group, hunting, water skiing on Center Hill Lake, off-roading in his Jeep, and helping his dad on their farm. After graduating from DeKalb County High School in 1980, he majored in Agribusiness at Tennessee Tech University, where he was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity. During college, he worked at Tech Aqua and served in the cafeteria. He graduated from Tech in 1984.

After graduation, Mark was placed in Jamestown, Tennessee, with the Tennessee Farmers Co-Op Management Trainee Program, where he was an active member of First Baptist Church. In 1989, he was set up on a blind date with a young lady whom he took to a pig roast. Two years later, he and Sandi were married, and they were blessed with their daughters—Lindsey in 1995 and Madison in 2000.

Mark worked as the Manager of the Fentress Farmers Co-Op before moving to Sandi’s family’s business, Burnett Poultry Company, in 1992. The company was acquired by Koch Foods in 1999, which led to Mark’s transfer to the Chattanooga Feed Mill location in 2002. The family relocated to Chattanooga in 2003. Mark worked in the poultry industry for 34 years.

Mark’s greatest joy was serving—especially his wife, Sandi, and his precious daughters. He was the ultimate “girl dad.” His girls fondly remember his help with all their school projects while attending Chattanooga Christian School. He was always present for their activities—every sporting event, art show, and choir performance. He especially loved helping with the homecoming floats.

Mark loved God, His people, and His world—especially the outdoors. He loved his Chattanooga and Jamestown communities. He never met a stranger and could talk to anyone. He loved all of life, enjoying hunting, golfing, pickleball, cycling, beekeeping, and gardening. He even grew giant pumpkins, including a prize winner that weighed over 500 pounds! Mark loved cheering on his Tennessee Vols. He enjoyed restoring broken things, especially his dad’s vintage Allis-Chalmers tractor. More recently, he enjoyed fishing, birdwatching, and building bluebird houses that he placed throughout the neighborhood. He loved cooking Brunswick stew, baking cheesecakes, canning apple butter, and baking apple pies from apples grown on the family farm in Jamestown.

Mark and his adored mini-labradoodle, Darby, completed training so that she could become a certified therapy dog. Together, they visited a nursing home, the Ronald McDonald House, and families of Hospice of Chattanooga patients, bringing comfort and joy wherever they went. They comforted many families struggling with loss.

Mark loved worshiping and serving as a Deacon at North Shore Fellowship and was considered the “go-to” when you needed something fixed or help with a move. He truly loved his North Shore family, especially his small group, whom he did life with and loved for over 20 years.

Mark will be remembered as a patient giver, a curious and persistent problem-solver, and the ultimate prankster who loved making others laugh. Mark’s laugh was infectious, and we thank God for his many gifts that he used to love and support so many.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Betty Jean Herndon; grandparents, Bob and Lucille Herndon, Ira and Velma Baker; sister-in-law, Margie Herndon; nephew, Weston Cole; nephew-in-law, Jason White.

He is survived by his wife, Sandi; daughters, Lindsey and Madison; sisters, Lynn Badgett (Richard), Martha Riggs (Greg), Mary Pugh (Joe), and Carol Cole (Todd); brother, Bob Herndon; mother-in-law, Jamie McGuire (Bill); father-in-law, Martin Clark (Glenda); sister-in-law, Andrea Lockerby (Teddy); uncle, Bill Baker; nieces, Carrie Beasley (Brian), Amanda Badgett, Ashley Rogers (Jon), Lauren White, Rebecca Cripps (John); nephews, Jon Badgett (Lori), Bradley Pugh (Verna), Clint Riggs (Kristin), Mitchell Cole (Rachel), Hunter Herndon (Nicola), Clark Lockerby (Jenna Cate), Camden Lockerby; and 19 great-nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at Jennings Funeral Home, 414 N Main Street, Jamestown, Tennessee, on January 3, 2026, from 2:00-5:00 pm. A memorial service to honor and celebrate Mark’s life will be held at North Shore Fellowship, 118 Woodland Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee, on January 10, 2026, at 2:00 pm. A reception will follow. The service will be live-streamed and available to view on North Shore Fellowship’s YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@nsfellowship . In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to North Shore Fellowship.