On September 9, 2020 portions of NW 70 Avenue between Commercial Boulevard and Inverrary Boulevard in the city of Lauderhill, Florida, was renamed in honor of longtime Jamaican American Community Leader, Reverend Melville Herron.
Reverend Melville Herron
Melville Bertram Herron, born in Jamaica on April 12, 1932, grew up on a farm. He was a hard worker and was eager to learn. He left for America at the age of 18 and began attaining degrees in higher education. He served his community in Brooklyn, New York as a homeowner association president, an engineer for the government, and a Minister for his church – just to name a few. All the while, he and his wife Grace raised their two sons Dwayne and Dexter. Upon retiring, Reverend Herron moved to Lauderhill and hit the ground running. In no time he began serving as the President of the Homes of Inverrary, volunteering to sit on the Planning and Zoning Board, and became a member of the City’s Citizen on Patrol Organization. The Reverend was active with the Democratic Club and always encouraged people to vote! He served in several capacities and earned high honors and distinctions from the fraternal organization of the Freemasonry. On May 3, 2020, Reverend Herron passed away of natural causes.
City of Lauderhill City Commissioner Richard Campbell, who was also born in Jamaica, shared, “Reverend Herron was one of a kind. He served this community tirelessly. He was proud of his heritage, his City, his community, and served us all with passion and truth until his last days. The impact Reverend Herron made not only in Lauderhill, but South Florida was exemplary.” Commissioner Campbell sponsored Resolution #20R-08-159 to have portions of NW 70 Avenue renamed “Rev Herron Ave.”
