Dr. Robert Edmund "Bob" Pearce

1940 - 2021

Dr. Robert "Bob" Edmund Pearce, 80, passed away January 7, 2021 at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A celebration of his life will take place at a later date. Bob was born December 16, 1940 in Clarksdale, MS, but grew up most of his childhood in Tupelo, MS. He graduated from Tupelo High School, William Carey University and Baptist Theological Seminary. His lifelong career was a consultant serving "a various and a sundry" of people and places. He served as a pastor at several churches and was a chaplain in the U.S. Navy serving in Vietnam. He spent 18 years at Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans, LA where he was a chaplain, head of the hospital's department of pastoral care, helped start the outpatient counseling center (the first of its kind in the region), and then head of the education and community resource department. He then began working and consulting with Louisiana State University training state agencies and leaders and eventually formed SSA Consultants, Inc in Baton Rouge, LA with his partners Bill and Cristel Slaughter, Don O'Day and Gene McCann. Bob consulted for companies ranging from chemical companies to newspapers including The Advocate for the Manship family. He then worked with the Brennan family as chief executive officer for their family of restaurants including Commander's Palace in New Orleans, LA. He never really ended his career as he was a consultant to anyone who would listen to his advice. He loved to spend his time traveling between Baton Rouge, LA, "The Country" in Perkinston, MS, and Hendersonville, NC visiting family and friends along the way. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert N. and Mabeline Y. Pearce; wife, Joyce McDaniel Pearce; sister, Gloria Pearce Godwin; brother, Samuel Brooks Pearce; and his beloved dog, Binji. He is survived by his wife, Joy Schow McKinnis Pearce of Baton Rouge, LA; daughter, Sonja Pearce Guthrie (Johnny) of Wiggins, MS; daughter, Shauna Pearce Breland (Billy) of Perkinston, MS; son, Robert Jeffrey Pearce (Heather) of Falling Waters, WV; the mother of his children and lifelong friend, Carole Pearce of Perkinston, MS; daughter, Linda McKinnis Siska(Craig) of Black Mountain, NC; daughter, Carol McKinnis Baccich (Will) of Dallas,TX ; daughter, Cindy McKinnis Falcon and son, Kevin Key McKinnis of Baton Rouge, LA; grandchildren Christopher Guthrie (James), Patrick Breland (Christin), Samantha Guthrie Thames (John), Calista Guthrie Mills (Austin), Kortney Breland Woodard (Clint), John Guthrie III, Kaitlyn Breland, Caroline Baccich Dufresne (Brian), Drew Baccich, and Shelby Falcon; 2 nieces and 3 nephews; many great grandchildren, great nieces, and great nephews. Donations can be made to the Robert E. Pearce Memorial Scholarship Fund at any Baton Rouge, LA branch of Red River Bank.