Mary Eley Pierce

Published 10:10 pm Monday, November 19, 2012

Mary Eley “Honey” Pierce, 100, born Aug. 28, 1912, in Windsor, Va., passed away Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at Hillcrest Retirement Center. She is preceded in death by her parents, Adelene S. and Richard G. Eley; husband, Gibson J. Pierce; daughters, Janet Pierce Eure, Carolyn P. Godwin, Fannie P. Jubenville and Jerry P. Powell; granddaughter, Karen Linda Pierce; sisters, Louise E. Davidson and Emma V. Eley; brothers, Emory, Marvin and Cecil Eley; niece, Doris D. Baker; and nephews, J.O. Davidson and H. Cecil Eley.

Pierce

A homemaker, Mary was best known by her family and friends as “Honey,” receiving that name from her first grandchild. She will be remembered for her small Honey pillows that she made and gave to friends to comfort aches and pains. A member of Providence United Methodist Church, she served in many areas including church pianist, the choir, music for the children, Administrative Board, WSCS and later a member of the United Methodist Women. Mary celebrated her 100th birthday quietly but knowing she was loved by the many cards she received.

She is survived by son, R. Percy Pierce and wife Josephine; daughter, Barbara “Bobbie” and husband Franklin Piland; son-in-law Ben F. Powell, all of Suffolk; grandsons Richard P. Pierce Jr., Brian D. Powell and wife Kelly; granddaughters, Mona Piland Rawls, Wanda Pierce Prescott and husband Frank, and Heather Godwin; great-grandsons Neil Shea, Zachary Pierce, Stephen Prescott; great-granddaughters Carolyn Rawls, Gabrielle Rawls, Michelle Prescott, Meghan Powell, Amanda Dalton; great-great-granddaughters, Zaylie Kitchens and Katie Pierce; great-great-grandsons Elijah Dalton and Adam Pierce; nephew, Marvin G. Eley; and nieces, Jeanie E. Mosteller, Kitty E. Becker, Addie Eley, Nancy E. Zeiders.

The family expresses thanks and gratitude to her caregiver, LaVerne Edmonds, for her dedication and devotion, to Hillcrest Retirement Center and staff, to Comfort Keepers, especially Sylvia Perry, Lisa Peace, Edith Wilson, Elaine Jackson and Wanda Harrell, and the doctors and staff of Family Medicine.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk, by the Rev. Dr. Garland K. Hines and the Rev. G. Thomas Brown, with burial in Holly Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the funeral home Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, from 7 to 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Providence United Methodist Church, Building Fund, 3105 Providence Road, Suffolk, VA 23434. Condolences may be made at www.rwbakerfh.com.