Carol Pearce Wakefield (1958 - 2025)
Carol Pearce Wakefield, 67, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida died unexpectedly on Tuesday December 30, 2025.
Carol Pearce Wakefield, née Carolyn Anne Pearce, was born in Jacksonville in 1958 to William Allan Pearce and Charlotte Rose Stumpe and spent her childhood growing up on the Pottsburg Creek in the Glynlea neighborhood of Jacksonville. She attended Holiday Hill Elementary School, Sandalwood High School, and Florida State College-Jacksonville, where she graduated with her Associate’s Degree as a Dental Assistant. Following her education, Carol entered the work force, working hard as a dental assistant for 26 years, first assisting at Dr. Roy Sloat’s practice and later both Dr. Lebowitz and Dr. Burnside in their practice. Carol, looking for a change and drawing upon the inspiration of her late grandfather Lewis LeRoy Pearce, dove headfirst into entrepreneurship and her true passion; starting her faux finishing and interior design business, Adventures in Faux Elegance. Her specialities included painting marble faux finishing and skies of all kinds.
Carol met the love of her life, Michael Wallace Wakefield, in 1988 at an aerobics class in Jacksonville. They had their first date on June 24th at Pablo Theaters and saw “The Great Outdoors” followed by dinner and drinks at Monkey’s Uncle. Excited to start their new lives together, the happy couple married on June 17th, 1989 at the University Club in Jacksonville. By 1992, their family had grown, adding their daughter Brittany Michelle. In 1997 the family purchased a plot of land on what would become Tallwood Road in Jacksonville Beach, that allowed for Carol to showcase her artist’s vision by designing every aspect of their own custom home, following in her grandfather’s footsteps. This would become the Wakefield family home for the next 28 years. A true lover of four-legged furry friends, the family always had a cat or two they doted on, with special recognition for Truffles and, most recently, Boujee.
There is no one way to encompass who Carol Wakefield was or what she meant to her friends and family. She had a vibrant personality; spending her free time meeting new people and regaling them with her boisterous stories and infectious curiosity. Never fond of overbearing rules, she constantly pushed the envelope and was always in search of a good deal. Carol was devoted to her health and fitness, cooking delicious meals, and striving to create beauty in everything that she did. Carol was an adventurous, globe-trotting traveler (recently visiting Oceania and Antarctica to complete her trek to all seven continents), caring daughter, loving wife, devoted mother, and a deeply talented artist who spread her love of serene nature scenes through her paintings and artwork.
Carol was preceded in death by her father William Allan Pearce, “Allan” and her mother Charlotte Miller Berglund, née Stumpe. She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Michael “Wally” Wallace Wakefield of Jacksonville Beach, FL; their beloved daughter Brittany Michelle Wakefield of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (Preston Beyer); brother, Douglas LeRoy Pearce of Coppell, TX (Kimberly); nephew, Matthew Ryann Pearce of Houston, TX (Kate); stepmother, Patricia Herndon Pearce of Jacksonville, FL; stepsisters, Mary Foyd Tanner of Fernandina, FL; Patricia Tanner Dent of Vonore, TN; Candace Tanner Talbert of Asheville, NC; Teresa Truett “Trudy” Tanner of Landrum, SC; Graylyn Tanner-Rice of Melrose, FL; cat, Boujee; and countless other cherished family and friends.
A memorial service to remember and reflect upon Carol’s life will be held on Saturday January 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Ponte Vedra Valley Funeral Home (4750 Palm Valley Rd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082). The family asks that donations be made in Carol’s honor and memory to Jax BEAM (https://jaxbeam.org/donate/) in lieu of flowers.
In recognition of the vibrant life that Carol led, the Wakefield family asks that friends, family, and mourners share a happy memory of Carol below.
