Obituary for Ronald Wayne Pierce
Ronald Wayne Pierce, age 74, of, Waynesboro, Virginia died Monday, August 7, 2023 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Ronald was born May 29, 1949 in Iron Gate, Virginia to the late Clinton Jordan Pierce, Sr. and Mabel Marie Allen Pierce. He served four years in the United States Navy. In 1980, he joined the West Virginia State Police Academy training program, and was the first black trooper to graduate. In May of 1982, he received a B. S. degree in Criminal Justice from West Virginia State College. In 1987, he went on to receive a Masters degree in Counseling from West Virginia University and was selected to attend the F. B. I. National Academy in Quantico. In February of 2000, Lieutenant Ron Pierce retired from the West Virginia State Police. This was the first time that any black West Virginia State trooper had been promoted to that rank. He was a member of the Retired West Virginia State Police Association, and a member of Mount Marine Baptist Church in Fishersville, where he served as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, and sang in the male chorus. After his retirement, he became Vice President of the Waynesboro NAACP and enjoyed genealogy research and woodworking. He also called his nieces, nephews, sisters, children, and grandchildren every day.
In addition to his parents, Ronald was preceded in death by three brothers, Clinton Pierce, Jr., Richard Pierce, and Russell Pierce, and a sister, Shirley Foster.
He is survived by his wife, Karen White Pierce of Waynesboro; two daughters, Keisha Pierce Saunders and husband Omari of Centreville, and Corinne Pierce Allers and husband Michael of Charles Town, WV; a son, Joseph Pierce of Lynchburg; four sisters, Deborah Adams of Roanoke, Margie Matlock and husband Ronnie of Columbus, OH, Juanita Christian of Columbus, and Sylvia Jean Jones and husband Leonard of Covington; five grandchildren, Lukas Pierce, Landon Pierce, Zayden Saunders, Zoe Saunders, and Pierce Allers; a number of nieces and nephews; and special cousin, Leonard Allen.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023 at 3:00 PM in Main Street Baptist Church, Clifton Forge with Reverend Dr. Ronald O. Baker as Officiant, and Reverend Dr. Charles Brown as Eulogist. Interment will take place in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge. The body will be placed in the church on Friday morning at 11:30 AM and the family will visit with friends from 1:30 PM until the time of service at Main Street Baptist Church.
The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.
Ronald was born May 29, 1949 in Iron Gate, Virginia to the late Clinton Jordan Pierce, Sr. and Mabel Marie Allen Pierce. He served four years in the United States Navy. In 1980, he joined the West Virginia State Police Academy training program, and was the first black trooper to graduate. In May of 1982, he received a B. S. degree in Criminal Justice from West Virginia State College. In 1987, he went on to receive a Masters degree in Counseling from West Virginia University and was selected to attend the F. B. I. National Academy in Quantico. In February of 2000, Lieutenant Ron Pierce retired from the West Virginia State Police. This was the first time that any black West Virginia State trooper had been promoted to that rank. He was a member of the Retired West Virginia State Police Association, and a member of Mount Marine Baptist Church in Fishersville, where he served as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, and sang in the male chorus. After his retirement, he became Vice President of the Waynesboro NAACP and enjoyed genealogy research and woodworking. He also called his nieces, nephews, sisters, children, and grandchildren every day.
In addition to his parents, Ronald was preceded in death by three brothers, Clinton Pierce, Jr., Richard Pierce, and Russell Pierce, and a sister, Shirley Foster.
He is survived by his wife, Karen White Pierce of Waynesboro; two daughters, Keisha Pierce Saunders and husband Omari of Centreville, and Corinne Pierce Allers and husband Michael of Charles Town, WV; a son, Joseph Pierce of Lynchburg; four sisters, Deborah Adams of Roanoke, Margie Matlock and husband Ronnie of Columbus, OH, Juanita Christian of Columbus, and Sylvia Jean Jones and husband Leonard of Covington; five grandchildren, Lukas Pierce, Landon Pierce, Zayden Saunders, Zoe Saunders, and Pierce Allers; a number of nieces and nephews; and special cousin, Leonard Allen.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023 at 3:00 PM in Main Street Baptist Church, Clifton Forge with Reverend Dr. Ronald O. Baker as Officiant, and Reverend Dr. Charles Brown as Eulogist. Interment will take place in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge. The body will be placed in the church on Friday morning at 11:30 AM and the family will visit with friends from 1:30 PM until the time of service at Main Street Baptist Church.
The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.