People
Biographical Sketches: P Surnames
Ada Holmes Pearce
Miss Ada Holmes, the daughter of Rev. E. E. and Mrs. Ann Nicewander Holmes, was born July 12, 1843. She was raised in the fellowship of Christ and the church. She was married to the Rev. I. A. Pearce, to them were given four children, Frank Pearce, Dr. Edward H. Pearce, Miss Sadie Pearce and Mrs. J. C. Klein. Sister Pearce was a devoted Christian woman. She faithfully and diligently looked after the cares of the parsonage and her family. Among the churches which she helped her husband serve were: Bellaire, Ohio; Barnesville, Ohio; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; North Philadelphia, Ohio; Steubenville, Ohio; Akron, Ohio; Beaver, Pennsylvania; Monongehela City, Pennsylvania; Louisville, Kentucky, First Church; Knoxville, Tennessee; Paoli, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida. With her beloved companion, they traveled as pastor and wife and shared the vicissitudes and hardships as well as the joy and richness of the life of the ministry of Jesus Christ. Her husband preceded her in death ten years, having preached until very near the close of his earthly career. Since his death, Sister Pearce has made her home in Knoxville. She was one of those women to whom people adhered. She had those elements of character which drew people to her and to the cause of Jesus Christ. She was called to her Heavenly reward August 10, 1922. Funeral services were conducted by her pastor at her late home in Knoxville. Source: Oliver R. Tarwater, secretary, Journal of the Sieventy-Ninth Session of the Holston Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church (Methodist Episcopal Church, 1922), 12-13.
J. H. Presnell
Physician and surgeon. Born Nov. 13, 1885, Knoxville, Tenn; son of James Madison and Helen (Henson) Presnell; married Cloteal Hardy, Mar. 29, 1923; three children, James Henry, born Jan. 4, 1924; Walter Madison, born Sept. 23, 1925; Margaret Louise, Dec. 20, 1928; educ. Normal Dept., Knoxville Coll., Knoxville, Tenn., 1908; B.S., Knoxville Coll., 1910; M.D., Meharry Medical Coll., Nashville, Tenn., 1913; Physician and Surgeon, 1913-present; Specialty in Obstetrics, 1918-present; President, Knoxville Herald, Weekly Newspaper, 1924-present; First Lieut., Medical Section of United States; Chairman, Executive Board, Knoxville Hospital Association; Chmn. and Director, Colored Unit, Community Chest Drive, 1928-present; Chairman and Director, Red Cross Drive; Committeeman, Knoxville Coll. Alumni Gym drive to raise $60,000; Chairman of Committee, Beverly Hills Sanatorium; mem. Trustee Board, Colored Orphanage, Knoxville, Tenn.; mem. Masons; Pythians; Elks; Young Men's Business Club; Knoxville Club; Knoxville Medical Soc.; Knoxville College Alumni Soc.; Athletic Soc.; pol. Republican; relig. Presbyterian; Address, 503 E. Vine Ave.; residence, 609 Butler St., Knoxville, Tenn. Source: Thomas Yenser, editor, Who's Who in Colored America (Brooklyn, New York: Thomas Yenser, 1942), 419.
