Antoinette Illona Herring was born to James W. Herring Sr & Annie E. Herring in Norfolk, Virginia on May 7, 1956. She joined a family of 3 siblings, including Ramona Herring, James Herring Jr, and Valerie Herring (deceased). 

Antoinette was raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. She loved to dance, create art, and play basketball. She was guard #15 at Seward Park H.S. and BMCC. She had two children, Natasha Herring and Kashif Bookard. She leaves behind grandsons Sondai K. Downing, Phoenix-Pierre Downing, Kashif Xavier Bookard, Nasir Bookard, and a great-grandson, Azai Ortiz-Downing. Her children and grandchildren share the gift of arts and sports.

She also leaves behind a host of nieces, including Nikea Toney, Kiarra Martin, Kaliyah Herring, Viondra Herring, Sarai Bookard, Imani Bookard, Nariyah Harrison, and Nelani Harrison. Her nephews include Sean Roberts, Andre Scott, Marcus Harrison, Michael Byrd, Noel Harrison, Amar Neal, Maxson Cezalien, Zaire Cleophat, A.J. Neal Jr., and Amarion Neal.

Toni, as she's affectionately known, was a breast cancer survivor and managed her schizophrenia daily, eventually joining her daughter in fundraising for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Antoinette was very independent and a force to be reckoned with--a gift giver; if you ever spent time with her, she spoke right to the heart of the matter, dropping jewels along the way with jokes.

Antoniette I. Herring loved her family deeply and will surely be missed by many family, friends, and loved ones. In her youth Toni loved to play music and dance and in remembering her we shall celebrate her life.

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