Leamon Pierce left his mortal body on Saturday, October 11, 2025. His legacy, however, lives on among others who were in the arena when others looked on. Leamon Pierce made his mark in the Chattanooga community and for good.
Today’s swipe and click news too often doesn’t make time to appreciate the depths of history local men and women have made. Let’s take a few minutes to remember the husband, father, grandfather, businessman, and history-making activist.
In 1960, Mr. Pierce joined Doris Jean Johnson, a fellow student at Howard High School, and Booker Scruggs at a downtown Chattanooga “white only” lunch counter. It was called the United States’ first boycott against segregation led by only high school students.
On February 19, 1960, the Howard High School senior class participated in the peaceful acts of speaking with their occupation of seats at “all-white” dining counters throughout the city of Chattanooga. Their cause was to do more than talk about ending segregation; they wanted to take their seats in the dignity and rights endowed by our Creator that are irrespective of color, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or any other factor.
This senior class sent letters of support of the civil rights for access to fairly priced housing, to quality education, and to receive equal pay for equal work.
Leamon Pierce was in that Class of 1960 getting his early start to a life serving the public.
JoAnne Favors, former TN State Representative and Hamilton County Commissioner, Retired, former classmate and colleague, pays tribute to Leamon: “I met the Honorable Leamon Pierce when we entered seventh grade in 1954 at the newly opened Howard School. He always exhibited a high level of maturity and was certainly a change agent who left his footprints in the areas of civic, political, business ownership and construction. I will always be appreciative of the political support that he provided to me. My condolences are extended to his wife Sue, his children and grandchildren. He will certainly be missed by the Howard Class of 1960”.
In March of 1965, the renowned and consequential 50-mile March from Selma, Alabama to the state’s capitol in Montgomery occurred. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the throng of thousands after extraordinarily tumultuous days of violence against Black Americans. Leamon Pierce marched from Selma to Montgomery.
Again, his actions matched his beliefs.
Leamon Pierce made history again in becoming Tennessee’s first Black businessowner of a bail bonding company, Liberty Bonding Company. Located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, the company remains in business after its founding in 1974.
Among the longest serving members of the Chattanooga City Council, Leamon Pierce served from 1990-2009 representing the citizens of District 8. Among key issues championed, Councilman Pierce fought for the Golden Gateway Project’s completion, to protect the Bessie Smith Strut from attempts to charge for the formerly free night during Chattanooga’s Riverbend Festival, and led the charge to make MLK Boulevard a two-way commuter avenue to boost travel and retail opportunities.
After 84 years of life, many of those spent with his dear wife Sue, being a “girl dad” to his three daughters, and watching his 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren carry on the Pierce family legacy, Leamon Pierce entered his rest.
Prayers are extended for the family. And as another Civil Rights activist has gone home, we watch for the next great minds who lead in peace and wisdom.
Arrangements: Mr. Pierce will lie-in-state on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 9-11:30 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home and from 1-6 p.m. at Olivet Baptist Church. Funeral service will be Monday, October 20, 2025, at 9 a.m. at Olivet Baptist Church with Bishop Kevin L. Adams, Sr., Pastor and Brother John R. Taylor, Sr. as the Eulogist. Burial in Forest Hills Cemetery.
OBITUARY Follows:
Still Marching On: The Life of Leamon Pierce
Leamon Pierce entered this world on April 11, 1941, with the parents of Robert and Eddie Lou Pierce. He was the youngest of three born into this union. Leamon was a lifetime resident of the Park City Community. Leamon was a graduate of Howard High School class of 1960. He was a Howard High Alumni Association member and a lifetime member of the NAACP.
Leamon was proceeded in death by his son Leamon, Jr., his parents Robert & Eddie Lou Pierce; his brothers Hosea Pierce, Sr.; Willie Pierce; niece Cathy and nephew Hosea Pierce Jr.
Leamon’s hobbies were bowling and playing cards. He mostly used his talent for building homes and remodeling.
Leamon leaves sweet memories and a cherished legacy for his loving wife of 59 years, Sue A. Gray Pierce. To their blessed union is a devoted daughter Mia Francetta Pierce; two granddaughters, JeMiia Pierce & HM2 JeLiia Pierce, United States Navy; and one great- grandson Shaddai Ali Pierce.
Leamon also leaves two daughters, LaShandra (Eric) Rivers Sr., and LaToya (Ricky) Harper Sr., eight grandchildren: JaVaughn Craig, Ashiya Ervin, Eric Rivers Jr., Destiny Ervin, Kayla Rivers, Ricky Harper Jr., Zariyah & Tykiem Harper; and two great-grandchildren Eli Rivers and Dekari Saddler.
Additional family include two sisters-in-law Mary Gray and Gloria Dozier; one brother-in-law Gordon Gray; nieces & nephews Cynthia (Autry) Jones, Michael & Regina Pierce, Yolanda (Horace) Besley, Shenia (Elton) Fowkles, Amber & Eric Flowers, Alicia (David) Moore, and Sabrina (Ricardo) Williams; three cousins Ronald (Yvette) Stevenson, Julius Summerow and Minister Perry Beck. A host of nieces & nephews Lakitta (Michael) Taylor, Rekitta & Rickey Dews Jr., Pierre (Maletha) Rogers, Niijia Williams, Hosea Pierce III, Victoria & Adam Fowkles. Best friends: Stanley Thurmond, William Clark, Jeffrey Besley and Harvey Hereford. Special daughters & grandchildren-in-love: Louise Evans, Lena Fugett, Kathryn Gladden, Tomyra Pruitt, DeSharla Rowland, Denita Strickland, Korshantae Tulloss, and Morgan Holloway, Niyona Gibbs UNS, Erica Dismuke, and Christopher Rivers.
Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Taylor Funeral Home.
Tribute to Leamon……In his own words:
The Movement of Leamon Pierce
I was born in a two-bedroom house at 2717 Cannon Ave. I wasn’t just an average young little guy. I was a young man; I was just curious about things about life. I followed my daddy around learning how to build using a hammer, using a screwdriver, using different tools, using my hands to build for my future.
I used to hang out with the guys in our community in Park City but I knew I wanted to do more so I didn’t play much because I had to work. I went to the school that was called the Park City School which is now a playground up the street from where I still lived.
I went to Howard High School. My class started doing things, we decided to make a change so we had a meeting, we marched from our school to downtown to Woolworth because at that time, in our day, there was a lot going on and a lot that we couldn’t do. At Woolworth we were Not allowed to sit at the counter. So that was our plan, we wanted to sit at the counter… so the Class of 1960 and others made our way to go sit at the Woolworth counter, but the police was ready for us. However, they were not ready for what we were ready to do! And, today you know the history….. y’all know what happened!
After leaving high school I didn’t go to college because I still had a bigger dream, and I knew that I could get it done. I got a job working at America Lava. In 1963, I went to Washington DC for the March on Washington. THAT WAS A SIGHT To SEE!…. in my early age seeing that many black men from everywhere, coming together to try to make a change for the world! And I knew that my voice, one day, would be heard.
In 1965, I was working in Alabama and I heard that there was going to be a meeting in Selma, AL. with Martin Luther King Jr. ……so one night when I got off work, I got in my car and I drove to Selma. I was in the meeting with Martin Luther King; there was a plan to March from Selma AL., to Montgomery, AL., to make another change.
Coming back to my hometown Chattanooga, the things that I had been doing, my parents didn’t know that I was doing all what I could to to effect CHANGE!! But they knew their baby boy was up to something? From 1960-1970, I was the civil rights movement.
In 1966 I got married to my wife Sue. Two years later we had our daughter who was born early, I believe she came early for a reason. In 1968, I was preparing to go to Memphis, TN., to be there with Martin Luther King, Jr., I missed being in Memphis, Tn. I was working for Electric Power Board (EPB) and during my time there I became the company’s first black lineman.
I went on to have other little jobs that I wanted to explore. I even started my photography studio named Sunbeam. Still seeking to be my own BOSS, I then opened AAA Bonding because I figured I would be first on the list. That just wasn’t the name I really wanted, I came up with Liberty Bonding Company in 1974, which is still open. I then became the first black bail bondsman. I was investing my money in the Park City Community by buying property. Later I opened another Bonding office in the name of Best Bonding Company, opening doors for my nephew Hosea, and friends, Stanley Thurmand, Linda Morris and Rev. Wright.
In 1989, Brown v Board can I say we did that? We changed the form of government here in Chattanooga. For 19 years I sat on the Chattanooga City Council. I even held the position of chairman. I help to lead the change to keep Bessie Smith Night free. I pressed to change M L King Blvd from a one-way street to the current two way. Durning my time on City Councilman my votes help change a lot in the downtown area. I fought for my community to be able to get a bus stop for the children, sidewalks and tried to fight other issues. I know people sometimes didn’t like my vote on the council, but I was told that I was a straight shooter. In 2003, I was named to the State POST Commission. In 2020, there was a protest during COVID and I wanted to go see and be a part of it. I stood there with the people protesting hand in hand.
I still had a voice.
THE MOVEMENT: Leamon Pierce