BEAUMONT, Texas — Jefferson County Precinct One Commissioner Vernon Pierce passed away Sunday after a year-long battle with cancer.
He passed away at 5 p.m. Sunday, according to a Facebook post from the Golden Triangle Republican Women.
Former Precinct One commissioner Eddie Arnold has been appointed to finish out Pierce's term which will end in December 2024, Fred Jackson, of the Jefferson County Judge's Office, told 12News on Monday afternoon.
Arnold retired from as commissioner in 2019.
Pierce, who was first elected in 2020, recently won re-election in March 2024, beating out Brandon Willis in the Republican Primary.
According to the County Clerk's office, there was no Democratic challenger for the County Commissioner seat, so traditionally the person who lost the primary would get the nomination to take over. In this case Brandon Willis.
However, it will ultimately be up to the Republican party chair and party executive to decide who will get the nomination.
Pierce is remembered fondly by his friends and colleges from his time in public service as well as his more than 40 year career at Entergy.
"You can't think of Vernon without picturing him with a grin on his face," Debi Derrick, who worked with Pierce at Entergy, wrote on Facebook.
Pierce and his wife, Sheree Locke-Pierce, were both involved with The Rotary Club of Beaumont.
"Vernon's dedication and service to our club were vast, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege to know him," The Rotary Club of Beaumont wrote on its Facebook page Monday morning.
Commissioner of Precinct 4, Bo Alfred, also lamented on Pierce's passing.
“He was a true public servant from his days with Entergy, to becoming a County commissioner. He worked for the citizens he served. it's a loss to his family and the community as a whole'" Alfred told 12News. "From yesterday when former Judge Griffin called, I have constantly had calls from individuals in the county both elected and not elected asking if it was true. You can only say the Good Lord had his will and way, and we remember his smile and his thing of, 'we can do it', because it's a family thing when you become a commissioner. He did that."
His family will be making funeral arrangements and releasing those details sometime on Monday.
A gathering of Mr. Pierce’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, April 19, at Broussard’s located at 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.
His funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 20, at Wesley Methodist Church located at 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont.
His cremation arrangements will be handled through Broussard’s Crematorium.
Memorial contributions may be in made in memory of Pierce to Wesley Methodist Church.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
