Verda Ellen (Hanna) Pierce

Mrs. Verda Hanna Pierce, age 94, of Waycross, passed away Friday evening (3/24/23) at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House following a short illness.

Born January 22, 1929, in Houston, Texas, she was the youngest child of the late James and Eula Wheeles Hanna.  

She married the late William "Bill" Walter Pierce, Sr. and faithfully served the Lord as a Baptist pastor's wife. They served churches together in 5 states and she had been a nursery worker, Children's Sunday School teacher, missionary, and prayer warrior. They lived life by the Bible and together, their life example has now laid the path for the 5th generation of pastors in their family.

She moved to Waycross in the early 1970's and had been a professional nanny and loved the children in her care. 

She was a member of Jamestown Baptist Church, attended the Sr. Adult Sunday School class, and was a prayer warrior of all she loved.

She loved the Lord, her family, children, and the outdoors. She was blessed with a long active life, continuing to garden and do yardwork into her 90's.  

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, William Walter Pierce, Jr.; step-son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Lillian Zastawniak; a grandson, Ben Pierce; and all of her siblings, Glenn, James, Viola, Vina, and Edith.

Survivors include her two children, Greg Pierce (wife Mary) of Ruby, S.C. and Michele Turner (husband Wayne) of Mershon; step-son, Charles Zastawniak (wife Viktoria) of Germany; grandchildren, Jason Pierce (wife Lena), Joanna Pierce, Bonnie Hardee (husband Gary), Aluna Pierce, Kris Pierce, Wally Pierce (wife Wendy), Sonya Dixon (husband Jason), Jade Zastawniak, and Sabine Zastawniak; great grandchildren, Walker Pierce, Weston Pierce, Michael Pierce (wife Kristy), Jacob Pierce, Sara Pierce, Anastasia Starr (husband Harrison), Katerina Pierce, Elisha Pierce (wife Taelor), Suzanna Pierce, Natasha Pierce, Amy Stokes (husband Dustin), Erica Rivas (husband Joseph), Madison Walley (husband Cody), Savannah Hulme (husband Brent), and Jacob Dixon; 6 great-great grandchildren and 2 more expected, Jonah Pierce, Gentry Stokes, Kager Stokes, Emrie Rivas, Barkley Rivas, Gabriel Hulme and Samson Pierce and Jaxson Hulme expected soon; 4 children she had kept and loved, Ann Miller Hanlon, Robert Miller, Shan Choudhri, and Sophia Choudhri; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

A graveside funeral service will take place Wednesday morning (3/29/23) at 11 a.m. at Ramah Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, GA 31501 or the Gideons International at www.gideons.org.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com.

Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.

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