Howard Lee Pearce, Sr., 87, passed away Saturday, August 29, 2015, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. He was born November 19, 1927, in Itawamba County to William Chester and Virgie Lee Cockrell Pearce. He was a charter member of Zion Baptist Church. He was a minister by calling, having served churches in several Northeast Mississippi counties, especially Itawamba and Tishomingo. He held numerous funerals and married many couples in the local area and did both hospital and in-home visitations. He also had a radio broadcast. He was a constable by election, having served the Fulton area. He was a policeman by choice, having graduated in the first class required for police service and served shortly as appointed chief of police in Fulton. He was given the status of honorary policeman by Sheriff Chris Dickinson. He was a salesman by trade for several furniture companies and worked in-house for Prestage Furniture Company and Fulton Tire Store. He enjoyed construction, electrical work, radio repair, and studying ancestry and history.
A celebration of his life will be at 3 p.m. Monday, August 31, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with the Rev. Frankie Smith officiating. Burial will be in the Itawamba Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Betty J. Pearce; his daughter, Patricia (Kenneth) Bishop of Fulton; one daughter-in-law, Debbie Pearce of Horn Lake; a son-in-law, Eddie (June) Harbin, Sr., of Amory; 11 grandchildren, David Rogers, Chris (Andrea) Bishop, Kim Bishop, Jason Pearce, Steven Pearce, Christy Pearce, Ginger (Joey) McAlester, Jennifer Pearce, Eddie (Michelle) Harbin, Jr., Monica (Mike) Burleson, and Michael (Kay) Harbin; 23 great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; one sister, Hilda (Donzil) Burlison of Olive Branch; and hosts of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three sons, Howard Pearce, Jr., James Pearce, and Paul Pearce; two daughters, Martha (Joel) Rogers and Linda Harbin; an infant grandson, Chris Harbin; two brothers, Fred Allen Pearce and Joe Edward Pearce; and one sister, Faye Taylor.
His grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time Monday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of the Rev. Howard Pearce to your local church or favorite charity.
