Portrait of Sydney Pearce. IMB Photo

Sydney Pearce, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Kenya and Tanzania, died March 29, 2026. She was 91.  

Sydney was born Sept. 26, 1934, in Goose Creek, Texas, to the late Henry L. Brewer and Nona Carpenter Brewer. She graduated from Odessa (Texas) High School; received the Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University, Waco, Texas; and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. 

She married Boyd Pearce on June 4, 1954. They served in a pastorate in Brownfield, Texas, until June 1955, when they moved to Prospect Hill Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. In August 1956, they sensed God leading them to return to Immanuel Baptist Church in Brownfield.  

While seeking missionary appointment, Sydney wrote about her call to missions, “In 1946, during a youth revival … I surrendered my life to do whatever God would lead me to do. Following a year in G.A.’s (mission organization for girls), and after going to summer camp and studying about the work in Africa, I knew God was calling me definitely to serve in that country.” 

In 1958, the International Mission Board appointed Boyd and Sydney missionaries to East Africa. They served in Kenya and Tanzania for more than 30 years.  

Sydney was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, William Boyd Pearce, and her son, William Dirk Pearce.  

She is survived by her children, Sheri Harris (Glenn) and Randal Pearce (Janelda); her daughter-in-law Libby; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. 

A memorial service was held April 9 at The Chapel at Salem Bible Church, Macungie, Pennsylvania, with burial in Laurel Land Memorial Park, Fort Worth, Texas.  

Read an obituary here.