Lacerial C. Pearson (fondly known to family and friends as Huss, Pearson, and LC) was born on September 30, 1929 to Benjamin H. Pearson and Annie Mae MacArthur-Pearson in Theodore, Alabama. He was the oldest of 12 siblings. As little boys, Lacerial and his brother, Frank aspired to be a truck driver and a mechanic. Using kitchen chairs and boxes from the cupboard, they would often pretend to be driving trucks as they played around the house. They each achieved their childhood aspiration. Lacerial confessed his hope in Christ and was baptized at the age of 14 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Pine Hollow near the town of Checotah, Oklahoma. He would lead his siblings in song with the old hymn, “Nobody Knows, Nobody Cares,” singing “Nobody knows, nobody cares, my heavy burden nobody shares, my only comfort, my only stay, Jesus walked by my side all the way.” He spent many of his teenage years in Boynton, Oklahoma, where he attended high school.
As a career Service Man for 20 years in the US Army, Lacerial traveled the world. He received a “Purple Heart” for his services in the Korean War; and achieved a ranking of Sergeant 1st Class, receiving many awards and acknowledgments. While in the military he joined the Scottish Rights Masonic Organization. He was also a Military Instructor at The School of the Americas in Panama. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1968.
After retiring from the military, he worked as a Driver for the US Postal Service in Oakland California, which led to his career as a long distance truck driver. He traveled throughout the United States and Canada. He worked for several large trucking companies including Mayflower and Global, before establishing his own trucking company, Pearson Trucking.
He and his wife, Opaline (Joni) Pearson (deceased), resided in Panama, Denver, Stockton, and Oakland before settling in Livermore, California in 1971. They enjoyed a long union together and lived life to the fullest. They enjoyed hosting gatherings with friends and family. They also both adored their children and grandchildren. Lacerial enjoyed fishing and also loved recreational driving and taking his family on outings around town and long distance road trips. He had a love of life and family and was responsible for many relatives reuniting from several different states.
He is survived by sons, Frank Augustus Pearson of Stockton, California, Robert Lacerial Pearson of Livermore, California; daughters, Barbara Anne Smith of Texas, and Tashenia Pearson of Livermore, California; grandchildren: Larecha Duncan, Robert L. Pearson, Jr., Emil J. Brown; four brothers: Abraham Johnson, James Johnson and Alex Johnson of Houston, Texas; Andrew Johnson of Pensacola, Florida; and five sisters: Fauntilla Pearson-Miller of Boynton, Oklahoma, Delphia (Daisy) Pearson-Presley of San Jose, California, Corene Pearson-Cato of Henderson, Nevada, Bernice Johnson-Williams of Houston, Texas and Isabel Johnson-Williams of Pensacola, Florida. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Opaline (Joni) Pearson; father, Benjamin H. Pearson (who left this earth just 2 months shy of his 106th birthday); mother, Annie Mae.
Funeral Services were held on Wed., Nov. 28 at St. Matthews Baptist Church, final resting place at Roselawn Cemetery in Livermore, CA.
Arrangements were by Callaghan Mortuary.
