Birth Date: 01/28/1933
Deceased Date: 12/06/2019
Barbara Joann Warwick Pearce was born January 28, 1933, in Selma, North Carolina to the late Robert and Emma B. Warwick (Lewis). She was the second of three children in this close-knit loving family with an older sister, Vera, and younger brother Robert “Junior.” Her father was a well-known mechanic and her mother was a superior seamstress. Joann departed this life on Friday, December 6, 2019, at the Wellstar Tranquility Hospice in Kennesaw, GA.
Raised in the church, Joann attended First Missionary Baptist Church in Selma where she gave her life to the Lord at an early age. Always excelling in school, she was promoted ahead one grade; graduating Richard B. Harrison High School at the age of sixteen in 1949 as Salutatorian of her class. She enrolled at the then Winston-Salem Teachers College (WSTC) in North Carolina to pursue a degree in education. While there, a favorite teacher encouraged her to pledge Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. which she crossed over in 1951. She also competed in intramural basketball while matriculating at WSTC. Joann graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
She returned home to Selma and taught for 2 years in Four Oaks, NC. While there she met Cleveland Pearce of Zebulon, NC through mutual friends. They wed in 1956 and moved to Norfolk, VA. This union bore two children, Dale B. Pearce (deceased) and Kelvin Don Pearce. Joann was a loving mother, always more than willing to go outside and play with her two sons. Sharing her love of sports with her sons, she taught them how to skate, throw a football, and shoot a basketball.
Joann was the spiritual rock of her family. She joined First Baptist Church, Berkley in Norfolk, VA soon after moving to the city and remained a strong, devoted member of the church for over 60 years. She taught at the church’s Vacation Bible School program for many years and Sunday School up to just a few years ago.
She had an innate abillity and enthusiasm for teaching. Joann taught for over 35 years in the Chesapeake, Virginia public school system, pre-dominantly at the 6th grade level. Even after retiring in 1995 she continued to substitute teach into her 80s and only stopped individual tutoring last year.
She also deeply enjoyed doing arts and crafts; excelling in macramé, plaster, painting, and crocheting. Joann wrote poetry and loved to sew following in her mother’s footsteps. She loved being outdoors gardening. Her flowers and shrubbery were always well-tended; she was fond of growing heirloom plants and trading flowers with friends and family.
For many years, Joann was an active member of two line-dancing groups. She was also passionate about volunteering at the Autumn Care Senior Rehabilitation Center for over fifteen years.
Most of all, she loved her expanding family of grand-children and great-children. She was always ready to assist and support the family in any way needed. She leaves behind to cherish her memory a son; K. Don Pearce (Leslie), a grand-daughter; Logan K. Pearce, four grandsons; Dale R. Pearce, Cleveland Dominic Pearce, Danual T. Pearce, Donovan W. Pearce, eight great-grandchildren, a brother; Robert E. (Helen) Warwick, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, devoted friends, and church family.
Funeral Service
Saturday, December 14
12:00 PM
First Baptist Church Berkley
706 Berkley Ave Ext
Norfolk, VA
Interment
Sunday, December 15
1:30 PM
Selma Memorial Gardens
Selma, NC 27576
Please visit www.rlsandersfuneralhome.net to leave online condolences.
