Our sweet, fierce mama, Barbara Pierce, gained her wings on Tuesday, April 24th, 2019 at home, surrounded with love by her children and grandchildren, after a long battle with COPD. She was born on May 14th, 1960 in Jacksonville, FL to Carlene (Motley) and Jennings "Lee" Pierce Jr. She lived in Jacksonville, Daytona, and also spent time in St. George, GA with her grandparents Marjorie (Nanny) and Jennings Pierce Sr. (Granddaddy), along with her uncles Richard and Michael Pierce.

Our Mom graduated from Fletcher High in 1978 and married the love of her life, and pain in the ass, Jesse Parks on April 26th, 1980. She has a younger brother, Jennings Pierce III "Trey" (Melanie) and many nieces and nephews (especially having married into the Parks family). They had four children, Kristi Parks Starratt (daughter of Sandy Dyal), Jesse "Albert" Parks Jr., Rebekah Parks Udell (Jacob), and Amanda Parks Dierking (Rob). She loved all of us unconditionally and knew us all better than we knew ourselves. Even more so she loved her grandchildren, Christian, Harrison, Wyatt, Coralee, Braxton, and Myra, as well as her bonus grandchildren Katlyn, Kaleb, and Kasey. Nana's candy bowl was always stocked and open for grabs to all of her grandbabies. She lived for family get togethers and sleepovers with her grandchildren, who brought her the most joy in this world.

Her love of animals went beyond most. She recounted fond memories of her Uncle Mike who rescued animals of all kinds, a tradition she was happy to continue. She rescued, fostered, adopted out, transported, and loved countless animals. Her empathy for animals and humans alike was not something that could be taught, but was in her soul, at the core of her very being. Her dog Belle was her constant companion and during her worst days would never leave her side. Belle along with her other fur babies, Mabel, Karma, Ricken, Yota (butthead or shitty kitty), Alice, and Amos will continued to be loved and taken care of by her daughter. If you knew mom, you were lucky. She was the most genuine and ballsy person I've ever known. She was a fiery red head who took no shit and gave everything for her family. She had a love of adventure and curiosity for foreign lands, particularly the tropical paradises written about in her favorite Jimmy Buffet songs.

Mom is preceded in death by her grandparents, Marjorie and Jennings Pierce Sr, her father and step mom Cindy and Jennings "Lee" Pierce Jr., son Jesse "Albert" Parks Jr., and Jesse Parks Sr. She's been waiting since 2008 to be reunited with her baby and first born child, Albert, who was taken too soon. We know that she was welcomed with open arms in heaven and that she is finally at peace. She will be missed more than words can explain, but how lucky we are to have had the time we did with her.

Her family will have a Celebration of Life on Sunday, April 28th at 2pm at her daughter Amanda's house and a private burial at a later date. In lieu of flowers we invite you to make a donation in her honor to K & C Pet Rescue and Adoption Society, Inc. or to Community Hospice and Palliative Care.