FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Governor Barbour Makes Appointments to Arts Commission

(Jackson, Miss.)—Governor Haley Barbour announced the appointments of Lawrence Farrington, of Ridgeland, and Beverly Herring, of Canton, to the Mississippi Arts Commission. This commission is designed to stimulate and encourage the study and presentation of Mississippi performing, visual, and literary arts and public interest and participation.

“Both Lawrence and Beverly share a love for Mississippi arts and culture,” Governor Barbour said. “I feel confident they will serve the people of Mississippi well.”

Farrington operates an independent oil and gas business. Previously, he has worked as the owner and president of Atwood Alarm Company and general partner with Vaughey & Vaughey Oil Company. From 1959 to 1967, Farrington served in the United States Army and Army Reserves. He served as past chairman of the Business Advisory Council at the University of Mississippi, the Mayor’s Arts Achievement Awards, and the Founder’s Committee for the World Series Performance of Mississippi. The past president of the Hundred Club of Jackson, Farrington is the co-founder of the Gray Cup of Mississippi and has been the art acquisition chairman for the American Heart Association’s “Art for Heart” for 12 years. He is a member of the Loyalty Foundation at the University of Mississippi and a past member of the Thalia Mara Foundation board, the Arts Alliance of Jackson and Hinds County board, and the Walter Anderson Museum advisory board. Farrington attended the University of Mississippi, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics. He is married to the former Janet Griffin; together, they have six children and eight grandchildren.

Herring retired in 2002 after serving 29 years as director of the Madison County Library System. After she received her Master's of Librarianship from Emory
University in Atlanta, Herring worked as a reference librarian at Millsaps College and then for five years as Head of Acquisitions at the Mississippi Library Commission. She wrote and directed numerous grants to the Mississippi Arts Commission in conjunction with the Canton Music Series, an annual series of chamber music programs held at the Canton Library on Sunday afternoons. This series lasted 20 years. A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), she is also active in the Mississippi Genealogical Society and the Mississippi Quilters Association. Herring is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and is married to Jim Herring. Together, they have three children: James, Caroline, and Christie.

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