WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Linda Pearce-Thomas, former Elderhaus executive director and UNCW Board of Trustees chair, passed away on Sept. 24, according to an announcement on Facebook .
A celebration of life for her is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Mt. Olive AME Church, located at 1001 S. 7th St. in Wilmington, per Davis Funeral Home .
In 2012, Pearce-Thomas made history when she became the first African American woman to chair the UNCW Board of Trustees.
She was also the founder of Elderhaus , a non-profit organization that provides “services and care that allow local seniors to remain independent in their own homes,” according to its website.
Linda Pearce has been a driving force in this community for several decades. Her interests and influence have had a significant impact on the City of Wilmington. Through her Front Porch Pulpit interviews she was able to address complex topics in a thoughtful way. She always had the right people on it and I appreciate the opportunity she gave me to be interviewed by her. No matter how difficult the topic was and even after turning down other requests, I was always willing to discuss it with her. She left an incredible legacy and at this time our department wants to send our condolences out to her family and friends. We will be providing funeral police escorts once additional information is released.
My dear friend Linda was the rarest and most precious type of friend a person could ever want. She always had the courage to tell me what I needed to hear, even if it was tough to take. Her ability to create and lead pragmatic action on complex community problems was unmatched. Her influence can be clearly seen in every equitable health initiative I have been a part of in our community. A fierce friend, confidante, servant leader, warrior for justice and equity - she will be dearly missed in our community and beyond. I can’t even begin to express how much I will miss this very special friend.
Linda Pearce was the visionary leader behind the development of Elderhaus, which in turn became the first PACE (Program of all-inclusive Care for the Elderly) program in North Carolina. For thirty-two years, she served as CEO of Elderhaus within the Wilmington community. She was a servant leader with a passion for older adults and worked to ensure senior adults had access to the services they needed to remain in the community for as long as possible. Linda’s efforts paved the way for PACE to become an option across our State. We are forever grateful for her visionary leadership, support, guidance and words of wisdom that continues to guide our work. Her presence will be deeply missed by Elderhaus.
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