Virginia Lou “Gingie” Trieschmann Pierson

Virginia Lou “Gingie” Trieschmann Pierson, 100, died Thursday, June 16, 2022. Born February 6, 1922, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to John Werner and Cora Watson Trieschmann, Gingie graduated from Little Rock Central High School and attended Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. She met the love of her life, Ed Pierson, in Little Rock in 1942, when Ed was a soldier stationed with the U.S. Army at Camp Robinson. They were married March 6, 1943 in Little Rock. When Ed returned from his tour in France during World War II, they moved to Ed’s hometown of Natchitoches which has been her hometown since 1945. “Gingie,” as she is known by all her friends, is survived by her children, Mary Lou Pierson Brown (Phil) of Natchitoches; J. E. “Jay” Pierson, Jr. (Connie) of Shreveport; Patsy Pierson McAlpine (Roddy) of Kingwood, TX; and daughter-in-law, Michele Loe Pierson of Shreveport. She is “Mamoo” to her grandchildren: Phillip Brown (Ann) Prince Frederick, MD; Juliana Sheffield, Natchitoches; Jason Pierson (Shelby), Katy, TX; Tim Brown (Jessica), Covington, LA; Ed Pierson (Anne), Duluth, GA; Ronald Pierson (Shelley), Madisonville, LA; Greg Pierson (Angela), Baton Rouge, LA; Ashley Shevchek (James), Humble, TX; Whitney Barker (Will), Kingwood, TX; Adam McAlpine (Audrey), Kingwood, TX; 25 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Also surviving Virginia is her sister-in-law, Margaret Barnes Pierson of Natchitoches. She is “Aunt Gingie” to her many special nieces and nephews. A truly gracious southern lady, Gingie has served Natchitoches in many ways. She was a Charter Member of the Natchitoches/Northwestern Symphony Board; past president of Natchitoches Service League; Board of Directors member for Association for Preservation of Natchitoches; member of Natchitoches Historical Foundation; past president of M.R. Weaver Elementary PTA; member of Geronimo Book Club. She was a member of First United Methodist Church since 1945, where she taught Sunday School, and was the founding teacher of the FUMC Nursery School/Kindergarten. She taught there for 26 years, many of those years with her dear friend, Charlsie Coker. She loved to point out all the children who went through her kindergarten over the years. Of great importance to Gingie were her years in the P.E.O. sisterhood which assists women with their education pursuits. She was a member of Chapter I, and then a charter member of Chapter AP, where she served as president. Having been a member of P.E.O. for 75 years, she was the longest-term member in Natchitoches. After beginning her higher education at Hendrix College in Arkansas, she completed her education (B.S. in Education) at Northwestern State College in 1957. Preceding her in death were husband, J. Edgerton “Ed” Pierson; son James Werner “Jim” Pierson; half-brother John Werner Trieschmann, III; brother, Rev. Robert Watson Trieschmann; sister, Mary Helen Trieschmann Henry; parents John Werner and Cora York Watson Trieschmann, brothers-in-law, Henry Pierson, Milling Pierson, and Joe Pierson, Sr.; mother and father-in-law Ruth Williams Pierson and G.H. “Doc” Pierson; and grandson-in-law Ron Sheffield. A service to celebrate Gingie’s life will take place on Saturday, June 25, 2022, 1:00 pm, at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches, with the Rev. Gary Willis officiating. Visitation will be held beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. Burial will be in the American Cemetery beside her beloved husband, Ed. Honored to be her pallbearers are her grandsons: Phillip Brown, Jason Pierson, Ronald Pierson, Tim Brown, Ed Pierson, Greg Pierson, and Adam McAlpine. Her favorite phrase was: “My family is my legacy.” The family wishes to express sincere thanks to Dr. Cissy Picou and Dr. Mary Long for their special care and attention; Hospice of Natchitoches for their continuous care; and appreciation especially to her devoted caregivers who helped make her life so much more comfortable during the past few years: Debra, Dynasty, Angie, Amie, Donna, Ruby, and Joanne. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to First United Methodist Church, 220 Rue Amulet, Natchitoches, LA 71457; the Methodist Childrens Home, 904 DeVille, Ruston, Louisiana 71270; the Ed and Virginia Pierson Scholarship at NSU Foundation, Natchitoches 71497; or the charity of your choice.