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AHOSKIE – Lonnie Ray Pierce, age 72, passed away on January 13, 2022 at the Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC.

Mr. Pierce was born in Chowan County, NC, on July 18, 1949, a son of the late Lester Manoia and Myrtle Parker Pierce. Lonnie served in the North Carolina National Guard during the Vietnam Era in the Artillery Division. He was an active, dedicated volunteer fireman with the Ahoskie Volunteer Fire Department from 1976 until he retired in 2002. Lonnie loved trucks and driving trucks for a living and was a loyal employee of Jernigan Oil Company for over 30 years. He was an avid fisherman, and NASCAR fan. Lonnie enjoyed cooking a pig and having a fish fry for friends and family, but his biggest love was his family. He never knew a stranger, was good to everyone and had no enemies. He made friends wherever he went and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Left to cherish his memory is his devoted wife of 39 years, Carolyn New Pierce; four sons, Brian Keith Pierce of Colerain, NC, Joseph Alan (Tara) Pierce of Sedalia, MA, Kenneth Gerald Gray of Roanoke Rapids, NC, James Brandon Pierce of Ahoskie, NC; a daughter, Laura Gray (Carl) Pierce of Colerain, NC; grandchildren, Brittany, Tiffany, Katie, Wyatt, Josh, Seth, Addisyn, Vincent, Makayla, Abigayle, Kendall, Kaleb, Michael, Luke, Landon, Makayla, and Mason; great grandchildren, Jentri, Auria, Amelia, Eliana, Leah, and Waylon; four sisters, Carolyn Mull of Ahoskie, NC, Judy (William) McGraw of Ahoskie, NC, Arlene (Robert) Knox of Gates, NC, Martha (Dana) Hollowell of Colerain, NC; and brother, Carl (Laura) Pierce of Colerain, NC.

The family will receive friends on Monday, January 17, 2022 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service, Ahoskie, NC, and other times at the home.

A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 1 p.m. at the Higher Ground Church, Ahoskie, NC, with Rev. Ray Faircloth, Sr. and Rev. Ray Faircloth, Jr., officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens with Fireman’s Honors.

Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made Higher Ground Church, 2209 US 13, Ahoskie, NC, 27910, or you may donate online by visiting www.tmcfunding.com/search; type Lonnie Pierce.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service – Ahoskie Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Pierce family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.