Thelma Ward Pierce

Thelma Ward Pierce, 94, formerly of Wilmington died peacefully on Saturday, August 16. 2008, in Greensboro, NC surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, August 21, 2008, at Pine Valley United Methodist Church, 3788 Shipyard Blvd. with Rev. Dean Morton and Rev. Jeanne Ray officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Mrs. Pierce was born on June 5, 1914, in Columbus County, NC the daughter of the late Louis Calvin Ward and the late Mary Josephine Arthur Ward. She was a member of Pine Valley United Methodist Church and was a retired homemaker. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Wade Hampton Pierce; sisters Alma Norment, Junie Moore, Geraldine Smith and brothers, Henry Ward, Wade Jefferson Ward, and Nick Arthur Smith and son-in –law, Alexander W. Spears, III. She is survived by her daughter, Shirley Pierce Spears of Greensboro; two grandchildren, Kimberly Egerton Thompson and husband, Mark, of Mason Neck, VA; Lawrence Pierce Egerton and wife, Lynn, of Greensboro; great-grandsons, Cameron Stuart Thompson of Mason Neck, VA and Noah Lawrence Egerton of Greensboro; step-grandson, Craig Spears and wife, Ginger, of Eden, step great-grandsons Denver Spears and Austin Spears of Greensboro; and one step-great-granddaughter, Marie Burgess, also of Greensboro. In addition she is survived by sisters-in-law Zella Belle Ward of Newport, Ophelia Whitley of Wilmington, Alma Rivenbark of Wilmington, Hilda Butler of Charleston, Sybil Pierce of Tallahassee, FL, Carolyn Ward of Sanford, FL, Alexizine Smith of Norfolk, VA, and brother-in-law, Curtis Smith of Jacksonville, FL. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews including special niece, Janice Norment Kye and husband, Carl of Wilmington. The family will receive friends from 8 until 9 pm on Wednesday evening, August 20, 2008 at Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel. Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Pine Valley United Methodist Church, 3788 Shipyard Blvd., Wilmington, NC, 28409, The Autism Society of North Carolina, 810 Warren Street, Greensboro, NC, 27403, or to the charity of the donor's choice