Joan Bowes Pearce

Joan Bowes Pearce – Raleigh resident, native of Roxboro, a lifelong fan of all things Tarheel, a dedicated public servant and mentor to young people, and a faithful friend to all who knew her – passed away suddenly on January 6 from a heart ailment following a brief illness.

Joan was born in 1947 to Willie and Patty Sue Bowes in Roxboro, where she graduated from Roxboro High School. She earned a B.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina. Her years at Chapel Hill forged lasting bonds of loyalty to the Carolina Blue, which she was always ready to talk about.

After college Joan worked 13 years in economic development for the N.C. Department of Commerce, then moved on to the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce as vice president for education and the arts, where she developed programs that won multiple Governor’s Awards.

In 1991 she became president of Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina, followed in 1994 by becoming economic and community development representative for Carolina Power & Light (now Duke Energy). She later worked for the Wake County Public School System as senior director for community services and community relations.

In 2000, Joan went to work for the N.C. Employment Security Commission where she became a communications specialist and director of the internship program, which gave her an opportunity to mentor scores of young people and develop friendships that lasted her until her too-soon passing.

Joan served her community as a board member of Capital Area Historic Preservation, Inc., as a member of the board of United Way of Wake County, and as an active volunteer with the Wake County Educational Partnership.

Besides leaving behind many close friends and cousins, she leaves behind her beloved aunt, Rebecca Wicker (Mrs. Ivie) Clayton of Raleigh and her cousins Ellen Clayton of Wilmington and Lawrence Clayton of Memphis, TN. Also grieving Joan’s passing is her best friend, Stan Williams and his family.

She was predeceased by her parents and her uncle, Ivie Lawrence Clayton.

A memorial service for Joan will be held at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 2pm. The family will receive friends following the service.

Memorial donations may be made to the Wake County SPCA, 200 Petfinder Lane, Raleigh NC 27603, or the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.

Services provided by Brown-Wynne, 300 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh.