We were an indirect client of Randy's for several years off and on.   We probably had a few hundred hours of his time and frankly every time he showed up to a project there was a sense of relief.   His thoughts, skills, and abilities brought us success every time.   What made it a joy was his stories, charisma, and personality.  We found him to be creative and thoughtful when it came to our needs and again there was always room for fun.

While his talent will be missed, I feel that much more has been lost to this world.   May his family and friends find comfort in their memories of him.

Randy was absolutely brilliant.  I had the pleasure of working with him at SAS.

Jim Dickson.

I had the good fortune of meeting Randy just under two years ago when I started working at Wounded Warrior Project. The time was all too brief. 
I had walked into a new role and was facing a time critical and potentially disastrous situation  with a tool I knew nothing about. Randy was able to quickly put me at ease with his intelligence and credibility. I have worked with scores of consultants over the three plus decades I have worked in IT. Randy stood out in so many ways. Not only was his work ethic impeccable, but his depth and breadth of knowledge was extensive. He understood the human factor as well as the technology.
But what I remember and miss most about Randy is his humility, sense of humor and human touch. I looked forward to our weekly phone calls even when there was nothing in particular to discuss. I am grateful to have met him in person on two occasions when he came to town for training. The team here at Wounded Warrior Project that worked with Randy is deeply saddened by this loss. As anyone who ever worked with him would expect, he made significant, long-lasting improvements for the organization and formed valuable relationships along the way. 


I just recently heard the new about Randy Pierce passing away and I'm stunned and crushed.  As with many, I met Randy as a SAS consultant to our company, but quickly developed a friendship that lasted many years.  Randy was a good friend and a good man and obvious from all the testimonies, touched a great many lives.  He will be missed and the world is poorer without him. 

Absolutely crushed to hear that Randy is gone! I worked with him in the 90's, and as so many have said he was brilliant, and funny and kind.  Randy loved puzzles of all kinds, I remember in Building A on his window sill had all sorts of wooden and even wooden and glass puzzles. I borrowed one once...and after a week had to bring him back in  pieces :)  within seconds in front of my eyes he reassembled the glass/string/wood mess I had handed him... back into a work of art.  Randy was also the king of proof of concepts... gifted with a brilliant mind, he would come up with ideas and just as quickly have working code to show the possibilities.  Randy's enthusiasm was contagious. I can't believe he's gone.  My heartfelt condolences to his family. 

Randy was amazing. In our group from 1996-2000 we coined him "The Great Randini" given his amazing computer skills. Our small group of programmers was continually left slack-jawed with Randy's incisive ability to whiteboard -anything- no matter the complexity. Randy cared more about the whiteboard than he did about the actual code. To him, the code was almost irrelevant. It was the algorithm from the whiteboard that mattered more than anything. Randy was the most patient person I've ever known. No matter how many times you asked him a question, he never lost his patience or temper explaining for the fifth time what must have been very simple and mundane concepts to him. Randy always steadfastly maintained that "nothing bad ever happens to me on computers". And it was true. He saw around technical corners no one could conceive of. Randy could prototype the most complex concepts in an afternoon.  Randy really set the bar for workplace attitude, behavior and kindness. This is how I remember him. I last spoke to Randy a few months ago. It is hard to imagine him gone from the face of this Earth. My heart breaks for his loved ones and the pain, shock and loss they are feeling.   

i am so sorry for your loss.  I had the privilege of knowing and working with Randy.  He was absolutely brilliant and so passionate about finding ways to solve problems.  As others have said, I had to ask him to slow down so my brain could process what he was saying. Then we'd have a good laugh.

My greatest sympathies to the family - wishing you peace.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."  (Matthew 5:4)

I'm crushed to hear this news.  I have amazing memories of Randy, and when I started my career at SAS he was one of my role models.  Super smart, always trying to find a better way to do things, huge advocate for doing something once and reusing it.  He also had a great gift to be able to explain complex things in such a clear way.  My heartfelt condolences to his family.  

I got to know Randy in 1999. He was always highly regarded because of his wit and intellect but he also had a great sense of humor. I have a lot of fun memories of Randy and the many lively discussions with him and Jim M.. My condolences to the family.

I'm devastated to hear of this.  He and I were at NC State together but didn't know each other until SAS.  Randy was one of the smartest people I knew. His brain had to run at supersonic speeds.   He always had some of the best solutions to problems I'd ever seen.  Anyone who knew him will, without a doubt, miss him.  He was too young to leave this life.

I was stunned when I heard the news that Randy had passed. We worked together for quite a few years, and Randy was one of the brightest and most conscientious people I have ever worked with. We became friends, because if you worked with Randy, you became his friend, that is just how it went. I am filled with sadness knowing that he was taken from his family, and the rest of us far too soon.

I first met Randy when we both worked for SAS in the 1990s. He was simply one of the smartest people I ever had the privilege to work with. 

Far too young to pass away. May he RIP. 

Condolences to his family. 

Randy consulted for the last company I worked at. Though  our interactions were not many, they  left a lasting impression on me.  He genuinely cared about helping me and I could tell he was just as considerate with everyone else that he came in contact with. This is a huge loss and my thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Randy was one of the smartest persons I have known.  When we were working together at SAS I frequently had to tell him to slow down because my brain could not keep up with his.  He loved working with computers and solving problems.  I will miss him. 

Jim & Betsy,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss, and we grieve Randy's passing with you.  You and your family will remain in our prayers through the coming days.  May God's love comfort you.
Larry & Ann Hooker

I am just heartbroken for your loss.  I (my company) was a client of Randy's but I considered him a friend.  We worked together for many years.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. 

Sari Kelly

Betsy & Jim, I'm so sorry for your loss.


Betsy, Jim, and Deik,
We are so sorry to learn of Randy's death.  Know that you are in our thoughts, hearts, and prayers.
Love, Harriett and Dave Watson, and Susan Overton

Deepest sympathy, lots of love and a ton of thoughts and prayers to Betsy, Jim and the entire family.
Love and hugs, Angie Mann

OBITUARY

James Randall "Randy" Pierce

11 March, 1969 – 10 March, 2022

Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders