Sister Cora was born to the late Nathaniel and Lucille (Faison) Herring in Richmond, Virginia.
She attended Maggie L. Walker High School. After working in Virginia, she moved in with her aunt in Harlem, NY, who was Native American.
Cora was a Black Foot Native American. In 1963 while living in Ohio she attended a Seventh-day Adventist Church. Her aunt introduced her to Sister Salsberry from Mount Zion Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hamden, where Cora and her husband became members. During this time Cora started as a lab tech at Yale University.
Cora was very active in the Seventh-day Adventist Church while working side by side with Bertha Davis at the North Eastern Conference, then serving as a Deaconess at Mount Zion. She then held a Sabbath School teaching position in the Cradle Roll until the early 2000s.
Cora loved all the children in the church. She would always have different children stay the weekends at her house. She had many godchildren who loved her dearly. If any child needed something, she would make sure they received it. She had a Heart of Gold.
Cora’s other passion was cooking. She would cook vegan meals, make fresh bread, vegan ice cream deserts and canning preserves and jams. She also taught bread baking at Mount Zion.
She is survived by her son Bill “Blast” Winn Jr. (Ana) of New Haven; grandchildren, Tatiana C. Winn, William L. Nieves-Winn III, Malik L. Nieves-Winn; great-granddaughter, Cataleya; two sisters, Mary Herring and Emmie McCargo of New Haven, CT; one brother, Robert Herring New Haven, CT; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and 15 godchildren. Cora was preceded in death by sisters, Alma Jackson and Dollie Mae Herring; and brothers, Fred, Willie, Nathaniel, Johnny, Tommy and James Herring.
A celebration of her life will take place Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Mount Zion Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 64 Marlboro St, Hamden, CT 06517. Friends may call Thursday at the church from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven. Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511. To leave a message of comfort for the Winn family, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com