Ethel Laverne Pierce, 75, of Dyersburg, died Thursday, August 4, 2011 at Methodist North Hospital in Memphis.

She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Hill Baptist Church.

Graveside services will be at 9 a.m. Friday at Fairview Cemetery with the Rev. Paul Hogue officiating. Dyersburg Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include her husband of 59 years, J.W. Pierce of Dyersburg; a daughter, Cindy Gilliam of Dyersburg; five sisters, Jeanette Villarreal of Quito, Ecuador, Mary S. Longway and Marilyn Frazier, both of Dyersburg, Carolyn Kulak of Memphis and Betty Prince of Lewisburg; a brother, Charles E. Smith of Dyersburg; three grandchildren, Domonic Willis, Nicole Reagan and Rebecca King; two step-grandchildren, Tommy Gilliam and Billy Gilliam; five great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, William Franklin Pierce; her parents, William and Velma Wright Smith; a sister, Tossie Gilliam; and a brother, William H. Smith, Jr.

Pallbearers will be Shawn Todd, Nick Spry, David Spry and Jerry Eskridge. Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Gilliam and Tommy Gilliam.