Kelly Elaine Pearce

A blind date with Frank Pearce began a love story that blossomed into 42 memorable years of marriage. Together, Frank and Kelly built a life filled with joy and plenty of love for their fur babies, especially their poodles. Most recently, they adored "Quincy," a five-pound chocolate brown toy poodle affectionately named after the French translation of the “fifth son.”

Kelly and Frank found joy in life’s simple pleasures. Kelly especially loved music and was a devoted fan of the band Journey; she and Frank traveled throughout the Southeast to see them perform five different times.

Kelly was warm, welcoming, and effortlessly made friends wherever she went. For 20 years, she and Frank hosted an annual neighborhood picnic for the Lexington Place community, where 40 to 50 neighbors would line their driveway to gather in fellowship, an event that perfectly reflected Kelly’s generous and hospitable spirit.

A lifelong member of Edwards Road Baptist Church, Kelly shared a deep family connection to the church, as her grandfather was a founding member. She was a graduate of Berea High School and continued her education at both Furman University and Presbyterian College.

Kelly inherited her sharp analytical mind and strong business sense from her mother, Jean F. Sharpe, who was among her closest friends and is well known for bringing the Coldwell Banker real estate franchise to Greenville.

Throughout her life, Kelly faced numerous medical challenges and consistently defied the odds with strength and determination. At age 32, she became the 24th recipient of a then-experimental kidney-pancreas double transplant at Emory. This life-saving gift from a cousin on her father’s side marked a defining chapter in her remarkable story.

Her determination was evident even in childhood. At the age of eight, Kelly learned to fly a Cessna airplane with her father, a remarkable testament to her brilliance, courage, and adventurous spirit.

Kelly was preceded in death by her father, Jack Stafford; her mother, Jean F. Sharpe; her step father Leroy Poston Sharpe, and her sister, Kimberly.

Left to cherish her memory are a host of close friends and extended family who loved Kelly dearly and will forever remember her warmth, strength, and unwavering kindness.

Frank would especially like to extend a thank you to Kelly's caregiver Sandra Young and the loving care she provided to Kelly in her final days.

A visitation for Kelly will be held Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 11am, followed by a funeral service at noon in the chapel of Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville SC 29609. Kelly will be entombed in Woodlawn Memorial Park following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Kelly’s honor may be made to the Piedmont Transplant Institute using the link below or by mail to P.O. Box 116812, Atlanta, GA 30368.