Memnon Tierce

Memnon Tierce, II passed away in hospice care on Monday, October 14, due to complications from COVID pneumonia and a fall. He was born on January 22, 1937, to Memnon and Frances Wilson Tierce. An alumnus of the University of Alabama and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, he had lived 87 adventurous years predominantly in the Tuscaloosa area with extended sojourns in Florida and Colorado. Mem was a descendant of some of the first pioneers of Tuscaloosa County – they arrived in 1816 and began acquiring land in 1833. He continued this work with real estate throughout his life. Mem will be remembered as a husband, father, friend, sportsman and businessman.

Throughout his life, Mem was involved in many start-ups. He founded Tierce & Company in 1964 as a realty and investment firm. He also was a founder of a local bank and builder of some of Tuscaloosa’s first off-campus student apartments. He envisioned the land adjacent to Lake Tuscaloosa as a lakefront vacation home community and developed some of the first subdivisions in that area.

Mem enjoyed going fast and having fun. His belief in playing just as hard as he worked led to many adventures. As a youth, he raced boats on the Warrior River and developed a love of the water which resulted in escapades sailing and powerboating from the Florida Keys to Lake Tuscaloosa. While living in Florida, he became an avid spearfisherman. Once, he was swept away from his boat and rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. Always a dealmaker, while in the water, Mem negotiated for a landing closer to home by giving his stringer of speared fish to the flight team. On the land, Mem loved riding motorcycles in his earlier years and horses throughout his life. His homes on Lake Tuscaloosa hosted legendary "jungle rules" volleyball games. He was a scuba diver from an early age and a good skier on both water and snow. He could be found skiing the trees on the slopes of Steamboat Springs, CO into his 80’s! Even at the end of his life, Mem retained an attention catching full head of silver (not grey!) hair.

Never one to listen to the voice of caution, Mem was the first to embrace new ideas. He had one of the earliest computers and mobile phones. He was an early internet user and developed his own website. And never one to be plagued with self-doubt, he compiled and self-published a cookbook of recipes he loved to prepare. He also researched (which may have been an excuse to do even more spear fishing) and published a guide to fishing spots in the Destin & Ft Walton Beach areas, "Hot Numbers." His family is especially grateful that he completed and published the genealogy work started by his parents, "1816 - A Tierce Comes to Tuscaloosa."

Mem is survived by his wife of 30 years, Tammy Jo Terry Tierce (Northport); his children Laura "Joni" Tierce (New Orleans) and Memnon "Trip" Tierce, III (Tuscaloosa) and grandson Kit Tierce Adams (Tuscaloosa), nephews Tony Richter (Sharon), Lucas Terry (Macy); great nieces Katherine Edge (Michael), Meredith Bailey (Patrick); beloved cousin Ophelia Tierce Harrison and many more Tierce relatives.Mem is also survived by his beloved canine companion Poppy.

At a private ceremony, Mem will be interred in Tierce Mausoleum at Evergreen Cemetery not far from the graves of his parents. A celebration of life will be scheduled soon.

Special thanks to Carroll’s Creek Fire Station #2 for their services.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations for care of the cemetery at Macedonia United Methodist Church, 14837 AL-69, Northport AL 35475