Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
here is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens." Ecclesiastes 3:1
A time to be born. Stephen Vincent Pearce of Johannesburg, South Africa, was born on May 10, 1970 in Hampton, Virginia. He was the oldest of two children born unto Mr. Johnny R. Pearce and Mrs. Aundre' C. Pearce.
When Stephen (Steve) was a child, he accepted Christ through baptism and became a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Steelton, Pennsylvania. He served with the Youth Choir and the Jr. Usher Board.
A time to grow. Steve was raised in the Hodges Heights neighborhood in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from the age of 8 years old. He enjoyed playing a host of childhood games outside and inside with his friends including, basketball, football, kickball, electric football, Uno, Checkers, Atari, and any other conceivable game children who grew up in the eighties played. Steve graduated with honors in 1988 from Central Dauphin High School, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
After high school, Steve matriculated to The University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Commerce, with concentrations in Management and Finance in 1992. During his time at UVA, Steve was affiliated with many organizations, but none more loved than his fraternity. Steve was #1, Spring 89, Equilibrium, Eta Sigma Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi. Following undergraduate studies, Steve continued his pursuit of academic excellence at Tulane University, A.B. Freeman School of Business in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance.
A time to build. After receiving his MBA, Steve built a career in Financial Services. This initially took him to New York. A few of his fraternity brothers moved to South Africa, so Steve had the opportunity to visit. After his first or second trip, he decided he wanted to live there. He started sending his resume to companies in South Africa and eventually landed a position. He was thrilled and moved to South Africa in 1999. He grew his career in Financial Services in South Africa for 20 years, starting as an associate for McKinsey & Company, culminating as a Senior Vice President and investment banker for Musa Capital.
A time to love. Stephen met his love, Toa, at a mutual friend's 40th birthday dinner. They hit it off immediately and began dating. After a few dates, they discovered they shared many common interests including sports, music, and travel. Steve and Toa/Toa and Steve married on October 25, 2010. To this union, they were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Zawadi and Anaya.
Stephen was a member of St. Michael's Anglican Church in Bryanston, South Africa.
A time for culture. Steve was proud to be part of his new family, the Malumos. He gained new parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. He became part of the family, embracing African culture and enjoying all the family gatherings and parties hosted by his South African friends and family. He had incredible and enriching experiences that included slaughtering a goat, safaris, travel to China, Europe, and most of the African countries.
A time for recreation. Steve loved sports. Anyone who knew him, knew that he was a fanatic. He could quote every statistic about every team and athlete playing college or professional basketball or football. In high school he played basketball and ran track. As an adult, he became an avid runner and continued to play basketball recreationally. In addition to his love of football and basketball, Steve developed a love for soccer and cultivated his golf game while living in South Africa. His rare talent as a walking sports statistics encyclopedia also continued to flourish. If you knew Steve and you thought you knew anything about any sport, then you had a debate with him about sports, but you never won. Steve was 24/7 sports and ESPN.
A time of peace. After a fierce and courageous battle with cancer, Steve lost his fight and was delivered from pain into a life of eternal joy on Sunday, April 19, 2020 surrounded by his family. To cherish his memory and live out his legacy, Steve leaves his loving wife, Toa; two beautiful daughters, Zawadi, age 9 and Anaya, age 5; and one son, Kopano Malumo, all of Johannesburg, South Africa; his mother and father, Aundre' C. and Johnny R. Pearce of Chesapeake, Virginia; his sister, Sonja Robinson (Bryant) of Leesburg, Virginia; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Daphne and Humphrey Malumo of Harare, Zimbabwe; his sisters-in-law, Inonge Malumo and Zanele Malumo; his brothers-in-law Tebogo Malumo (Phumza) and Kabo Malumo (Kakanyo); his fraternity brothers; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Steve was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, Andrew and Hazel B. Carter and James and Pearl D. Pearce.
LIFE WELL LIVED
A life well lived is a precious gift,
of hope and strength and grace,
from someone who has made our world
a brighter, better place.
It's filled with moments, sweet and sad
with smiles and sometimes tears,
with friendships formed and good times shared,
and laughter through the years.
A life well lived is a legacy,
of joy and pride and pleasure,
a living, lasting memory
our grateful hearts will treasure.
~Author Unknown~
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Stephen Vincent Pearce, please visit our floral store.