Mrs. Clara Dine Pierce

Mrs. Clara Dine Hilliard Pierce, age 82 of Laurens, SC, formerly of Nash County, NC, departed this earthly life on Thursday, September 21, 2023.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00PM, Thursday, September 28, 2023 at Castalia Baptist Church, Castalia.  Interment will follow at St. John Baptist Church Cemetery, Red Oak.

Clara was born March 6, 1941, in Nash County, North Carolina to the Late Abraham Hilliard and the Late Vessie Winstead Hilliard. Clara is the 8th of 9 children.

Clara was proceeded in death by, her beloved husband Willie L. Pierce Sr. and son Willie L. Pierce Jr.; her parents Abraham and Vessie Hilliard; one brother Archie Hilliard, and 3 sisters, Amy Jean Biggers, Maxine Clark, and Lillie Mae Sessoms.

Clara fell in love with the Lord as a child and was baptized at the age of 13 years old in Swift Creek and became a member of St. John Baptist Church in Red Oak, North Carolina. After Clara got married, she joined Castalia Missionary Baptist Church Castalia, North Carolina and worshipped and served The Lord with her husband. Clara was very active in the church until her health began to fail. Clara served as a Sunday School teacher, sang on the Senior Choir, in her earlier years Clara worked with the Children’s Choir. Clara was given the honorable distinction of “Church Mother”. In these final years, Clara still enjoyed hearing hymns and old spirituals right up to the last days. Many of the staff would sit and read her Bible to her; Proverbs being one of her Favorite books of the Bible.

Clara received all her formal education through the Nash County Educational system. Clara attended the Castalia School and completed her elementary studies in 1956 and was promoted to Nash Central High School and she graduated in the Class of 1960. Clara loved learning and devoted her life to being educated and promoting education. Clara worked in the Nash County School System for over 30 years.

On April 1, 1961, Clara married her childhood sweetheart Willie Lee Pierce, and they were happily married for 42 years until the Lord called him home. From their union Clara and Willie had 2 children: Willie Jr. and Pamela Rene. She was a very proud military wife as her husband served honorably in the United States Air Force and they were stationed all over the United States.  Once military life was over Clara and Willie began civilian life in Dallas, Texas. However, the climate was not good for their daughter, Pamela, so they moved back to their hometown of Castalia, North Carolina where she lived in the home that she and Willie Sr. built from the ground up. Clara lived in her home for over 40+ years until her health made it impossible to live without assistance.

Clara loved service and her community; she was a Board Member of the Castalia Community Development Corp. This group is responsible for the restoration and upkeep of the Historic Castalia Rosenwald School. She served in the United Order of the Tent: Lilly of the Valley #185 and also AARP: Local Chapter#3942

She leaves to cherish her memory: a very loving daughter Pamela (James)Pierce Moye’; of Ware Shoals, South Carolina; One Beloved grandson, Willie-James Moye’ of Ware Shoals, SC; two loved and cherished granddaughters: Mercedes Moye’ of Greenville, South Carolina and Christina Pierce of Greenville, North Carolina, 5 sisters: Louise Calendar Brooklyn, New York, Mary Green Castalia, North Carolina, Mable West Newport News, Virgina, Margie (Henry) Stokes Teachey, North Carolina, Virginia Holley White Plains, Maryland, Mildred (John) Wilsher Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and a Bonus sister: Shirley P. Gupton of Rocky Mount, North Carolina; one sister in Love Lois Pierce Rocky Mount, North Carolina; one brother Emmanuel Hilliard Wilson, North Carolina; one brother in love McKinley Clark Waldorf, Maryland. Clara also leaves behind to celebrate her life a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A Service of Love and Dignity provided by William Toney's Funeral Home, Spring Hope.

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