WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — June Leggett Pearce passed away peacefully on January 23, surrounded by her family and supported with love and prayers from her church community and friends. She was born in Lumberton, NC, September 3, 1940, the daughter of R. Frank Leggett and Inez Shaw Leggett.
June was predeceased by her parents, her beloved husband of 23 years, Buford Pearce and her brother Franklin Leggett, Jr.
A graduate of Lumberton High School, June went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina Women’s College. She was the first in her family to receive a college degree and this set the foundation for an emphasis on education and academic success which she shared with her children and grandchildren.
In June’s early career she was a tough yet beloved teacher of Social Studies and English at Lumberton Junior High School. She had a passion for excellence. June motivated others throughout her life to achieve more than they expected. She was a lifelong learner and teacher even though she would say her greatest career was that of a mother and homemaker, describing the latter as a “domestic engineer”!
June lived in Fayetteville for 48 years, blessed by wonderful friends, neighbors, churches, bridge groups, and birthday clubs. She loved to be busy and she loved to have fun. She really enjoyed working in her yard, taking care of friends, going to the movies, weeks at Myrtle Beach, dancing, dinners out and conversations around her kitchen table. June valued her tenure as President of Fayetteville Beautiful and most especially she enjoyed her 16 years as manager of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church’s Food Pantry. While her children and grandchildren lived all over the country, they always knew she was close by, cheering their successes and offering practical, sage advice during life’s challenges. Her thank you notes and cards were “keepers”, her advice always cherished.
A devoted and active member, June accepted Christ as a 10 year old at the First Baptist Church of Lumberton. She was a 20 year member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and later she cherished her membership at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church. In 2021 June moved to Wilmington, NC to be closer to her children and was blessed by the love and support she received from her new church family at Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church.
She will be remembered as a loving, fun, intelligent and dynamic wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend and neighbor. A true southern lady with a mischievous twinkle in her eye and quick laugh at the ready. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Sandra and Bart Williams of Wrightsville Beach, her son, Sam McKenzie of Wilmington, her daughter and son-in-law, Beverly and Joel Shearon of Florence, South Carolina and her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Bruce Bradshaw of Splendora, Texas. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Sarah Dalton (Conner), Betsy Weidemann (Jesse), Barton Williams, Jr., Joy Eure (John), Keith Shearon, Bruce Bradshaw (Nikki), and Catherine Taylor (Jeremy), 5 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild and counting.
The family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the compassionate care given by Dr. Andrew Schreiber, Dr. Rex Kiteley and their staff, the team at Always Good Company and Eldercare. Also, a special thanks to the staff and medical team at Lower Cape Fear Life Care for the care, comfort and peace that was provided for June and the family.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 28 at 1:00pm at Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church, 601 Causeway Dr., with Reverend Roy Smith officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Fellowship Hall.
Condolences may be shared with the family here.
