Mr. John Saxon Pierce better known to many as “Piccolo,” died on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at Hospice Savannah Inc. He was known locally and around the state as a civil rights activist. Pierce marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Hosea Williams and others. He also participated in the Selma, Alabama March in 1965 that would become known as “Bloody Sunday.”
The unsung hero did receive some acknowledgement for his role in the struggle for equality having been invited to the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter and seeing the establishment of “John Saxon “Piccolo” Pierce Day by the Savannah City Council Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 22, at First African Baptist Church, Franklin Square. Pierce was 80.