Our Story

Elvira B. Pierce- Founder “her vision, our mission”

     Mrs. Elvira B. Pierce was born Elvira Jayne Byrd to Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Byrd in Grover, North Carolina, the second of nine children.  In 1923, the Byrd family moved to Philadelphia where Elvira continued her elementary schooling at Cassidy Elementary School.  Her secondary education was interrupted after eighth grade when tragedy, the death of her mother, struck the family. The older children were needed to help with the young at home, and Elvira left school to begin work.

     As the dream of continuing her education remained with her, Elvira started to attend evening classes.  In 1944, she graduated from Standard Evening High School.  Even then she envisioned herself as one day being a teacher, but the financial strain of going further with her education caused her to defer the dream.

     As the years passed, Elvira determined to forge her own life and focus on the field she loved - teaching.  In 1958, she entered Cheyney University and three and one half years later Elvira graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education.  She then went on to obtain her Master’s Equivalency from Temple University.

     In February 1962, Elvira realized her dream and began teaching for the Philadelphia Public School System. She taught for seventeen and a half years, retiring in 1979 from Cassidy Elementary School.  During her teaching career, she received many accolades for her dedication and classroom achievement.

     At the Third Annual Dr. Ruth W. Hayre Scholarship Luncheon in May, 1979, Elvira was Cassidy School’s honoree to receive the Ruth W. Hayre Scholarship Service Award.  That same year, a scholarship was given by the Ruth W. Hayre Scholarship Fund to a graduate of Overbrook High School in Elvira’s name. Overbrook, her neighborhood high school, was just a block away from her home, and as Elvira watched the students pass her house in route to school, she saw the need to reach out to them. She decided to continue her scholarship to Overbrook students. She did that for the next twenty years.  In order to raise funds for the scholarship, she hand crafted ceramic items and would occasionally set up a table in the corridors of Overbrook High School to sell her ceramic wares. As age crept into her hands, she stopped her ceramic work and requested aid from her family and friends. As a result, in 2000 the Elvira B. Pierce Scholarship Fund was incorporated into a nonprofit 501c3 organization to continue her important work.

     In 1979, Elvira was invited to become a member of the Dr. Ruth W. Hayre Scholarship Fund.  She joined the Student Friends Committee of this fund and served as Chairperson of the committee from 1983 - 1988.  She served as Second Vice President of the Board of Directors from 1983 - 1984, and served as first Vice President from 1985 - 1994.  In 1984, she was Co-Chairperson of the Luncheon Committee.  Elvira was a member of the Scholarship Fund’s Committee of 100.
    
     Elvira was a member of the National Association of University Women, Philadelphia Branch.  She became a member of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Retirement Chapter upon her retirement from teaching, and in 1980 was one of the founding members of the Travel, Educational, Cultural (TEC) Committee.  She served as Chairperson of this committee from 1985 to 1996. Her travels took her near and far around the world – to Africa, Europe and many parts of the United States.
    
     The quest for education and its attainment were only part of a life which was full and active in many ways.  Since 1935 Elvira was an active member of the Holy Temple Church of God in Christ. During her many years at Holy Temple, she served as a Sunday school teacher; Superintendent of the Junior Department; President of the Board of Christian Education; Church Clerk; member of the Mission Department; and member of the Young Women’s Social Guild for 60 years, nine of which she served as its president.. It was also at her church that she met and married her husband, the Reverend Louis Pierce. 

    Elvira was the matriarch of her family for many years. She was affectionately known as “Bibi,” a Swahili word that means grandmother. Her granddaughter Kianga Mungai Tchume reflects: “When I would listen to Bibi talk about her life, I was reminded of a patchwork quilt – bits and pieces of old cloth sewn into a masterpiece. Her compassion reminded me to think of others… Not  only was my grandmother an inspiration in my life, but also in the lives of the many young people that she helped.” 

     If there is one word which most accurately reflects the meaning of her life, it is the word “service”.  Her life was an unfolding narrative of selfless service to her family, her church, her school, her community and to humanity.

     She departed this life on November 30, 2013 – nine days shy of her 100th birthday.