[Funeral Program for Juanita George Pierce, August 26, 2003] Page: 2 of 3
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Juanita George Pierce was torn on October 15, 1912 to Cornel 1US
George and Pearl Witherspoon George m Colorado City, Texas Ske
joined her pre-teen siblings, brother, Arthur and sister, Honorme.
Th e family moved to Fort Worth, Texas where Juanita attended public
school. One of her fondest memories was childhood summers spent
m Houston with her beloved aunt, Maggie Witherspoon Mache
In 1929 she had accumulated sufficient credits to graduate from
I M Terrell High School . Since she was only 15 years old, her
parents agreed that she should remain in high school for another
year before going away to college. She used this year to serve as a
volunteer teacher of typing and Spanish at I. M Terrell She
graduated m 1929 as valedictorian of her class.
With the encouragement of her Aunt Maggie, m September of
1929 she enrolled as a freshman at Fish University m Nashville,
Tennessee After only three years, she graduated cum laude m the
class of 1932 with a de gree m chemistry.
In 1933 she married Joseph A. Pierce. Throughout their marriage
Joseph and Juanita made several college assignments their home.
The first stop was at Wiley College m Marshall, Texas, where Joseph,
having earned a master's degree at the University of Michigan, taught
mathematics and Juanita taught women's health and physical
education.
It was m Marshall that th eir only child, Joseph A. Pierce, Jr., was
born. In 1938 Joseph, Sr. earned his doctorate degree m mathematics
from the University of Michigan. That same year the family moved
to Atlanta, Georgia, where Joseph taught mathematics at Atlanta
University and Morehouse College and Juanita taught health and
physical education at Oglethorpe Elementary School, Laboratory
High School and Atlanta University.
It was not long thereafter that Juanita entertained the idea of earning
a doctorate degree also She traveled to New York, and after only
two years, she received her master's and doctorate degrees from New
York University m Health and Physical Education. She was so proud
of these accomplishments that she began a lifetime commitment of
encouraging her students to always set high standards for themselves
and to work very hard until they achieved their goals. During their
Atlanta years, Joe, Juanita and Joseph, Jr. enjoyed being a part of a
growing mecca for African-Americans and made many life long
friends.
The Pierces' last assignment was m Houston, Texas. In 1948, as
a rare "doctorate couple", they were recruited to teach at Texas
Southern University which had opened its doors only one year earlier.
Joseph, Sr. went from Head of the Department of Mathematics to
Dean of the Graduate School to eventually become the third President
of the University. Juanita founded and served as Head of the Women's
Department of Hea itk and Physical Education. It was here that she
connected academically and personally with students who became
teachers, athletes and professionals throughout the nation. She
worked very hard to help them to find employment once they had
completed the undergraduate or graduate school programs, and she
kept up with many of her students through the years
wh en her husband retired as President of Texas Southern
University m 1967, she resigned her position to share retirement
wi tkk lm. They moved to San Antonio
After Joseph, Sr. died m 1969, Juanita worked for a few years at
Ella Austin Community Center. Her last students and the joys of
her retirement years were her two grandsons, Joseph and Michael.
She also enjoyed her church, St. Philip's Episcopal Church. Socially,
she enjoyed membership with her dear friends m the Five O'Clock
Bridge Club and visits with her supportive neighbors on Timilo Drive
She was an Archousa of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
She was a 72 year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, having
pledged Pi Chapter at Fisk University She was also a member of
Kappa Delta Pi (National Education Honor Society) She served
on the executive committees of the YWCA and the Urban League m
Atlanta and Houston. She loved dogs and always had one by her
side
She is survived by her son, Dr. Joseph A. Pierce, Jr., daughter-m-
law, Aaronetta Hamilton Pierce, grandsons, Michael Arthur Pierce
and Joseph Aaron Pierce Esq , his wife, Kama Bethel Pierce Esq ,
and their three c UJ ren, Marco, Jasmine and Julian.
"I've known Juanita since 1931, and I've always admired her, not
only for her beauty, but for her brilliance.
We knew, even as freshmen, that sh e was a winner and a leader,
and that was confirmed by her later stellar career."
~ John Hope Franklin ~
PRELUDE
Anthems
Hymnal # 362
Pray
er
^Jhe Order oj*Service
Jams Hadnott
BCP, p 469
"Holy, Holy, Holy" Re gmald Heber
BCP, p 470
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 61 1-3
Psalm # 121 BCP, p 473
New Testament Lesson Revelations 21.2-7
Psalm
Solo
Tributes
# 23 BCP P 476
"Great is thy Faithfulness" Cnstal Smith
Dr. Carolynn Reid-Wall ace
President, Fisk University
Dr. Polly Sparks Turner
Director of Graduate Programs m
Health Care Administration
Texas Southern University
Mrs Katie McKmney Jones
St. Philip's Episcopal Ch urch Vestry
Mr. Joseph Aaron Pierce, Esq , Grandson
Mrs. Elizabeth Jones Johnson
Retired Teacher, Former Student
Mrs. Joyce H. Lovelady
Retired Teacher, Former Student
Solo
"Were You Th
ere
Moiro Konchellah
Fisk J ubilee Smger
Fisk University
The Gospel
St. John 14 1-6
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[Funeral Program for Juanita George Pierce, August 26, 2003], pamphlet, August 26, 2003; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth247620/m1/2/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting San Antonio Public Library.