Lamonta Pierson

Lamonta Pierson
July 11, 1929 ~ June 16, 2020Lamonta Pierson passed peacefully at her home on June 16, 2020.  She is survived by her adventurer husband Frank Pierson, her four children: Lynn, Jon, Tim, and Tyler Shepodd, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her younger siblings, G. Adrian Birney, of Washington DC, and Darlene Pierce of Daytona Beach FL, and her first two husbands, Jon Shepodd and Robert Buck.  From Lassie’s dad, to audio engineer, to location manager, she loved her handsome Hollywood leading men.Born in Stuebenville, OH, Lamonta grew up across the Ohio River in nearby Weirton, WV, the daughter of a steelworker then Real Estate Broker and a talented, colorful mother. A popular student, club member, and natural performer throughout her youth, Lamonta enrolled in the esteemed Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where she honed her vocal and piano skills. While working her way through college at a doctor’s office, a long-distance romance with an actor became a marriage proposal.

She left college early and bussed to Orlando, FL where she married Jon Shepodd (nee Manley High Goodwin, of Birmingham, AL) a GI and radio show singer at the Angebilt Hotel, home of WLOF, “The Friendly Voice of Central Florida”.  She sometimes accompanied him in song and at the piano on the show. They married on Valentine’s Day 1948 at the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. Pretty soon they were on their way by bus to Hollywood, for him to be in show business. Or was it her? Her first stop was at the Hollywood Studio Club for glamour shots and a few modeling gigs.

Wherever she lived in Hollywood, there was always a piano at the house. In the early days, other young performers and those in stagecraft gathered to socialize. Music, storytelling, laughter, and rehearsals were always a part of her home. In 1958 she moved their family from the flats of Hollywood to Hollywoodland, a real community of interesting, talented people with a quaint village of stores. Her kids grew up climbing the hills with friends, some of whom still live here.

Lamonta was a beauty.  Always perfectly coiffed, her bright, elegant face was so very kind and welcoming. A very social person, she loved any reason to get together. From dressing to the nines for a night out, to picnics in Fern Dell, to staking out an early table at the Hollywood Bowl, her idea of a great time was to be with people. Add good food, fun, chatter, and music and the simplest event could be a winner. And no politics.

What a voice! She used her low, trademark stage voice when calling for her kids, and a big Whoa! at the start of her contagious laugh.  A soprano in community opera at Hollywood High and a lead with The Sweet Adelines, Lamonta had a smooth, supportive, practical, humorous talking style in person at work or play. Her brilliant eyes cut to the chase.
She considered her most prolific body of work to be her kids and their families. In support, she served on the PTAs of both Vine Street and Cheremoya Elementary Schools raising needed funds, and fun, for public schools. As her family grew, she was delighted to notice the talents and personalities of each one. She was very proud of all of them, and took on as her own their causes and endeavors.

Lamonta and her siblings, Dar and Ade, were a tight threesome that spent time together whenever possible; never a cross word, but many a Crossword puzzle. They were good role models for anyone watching. When together they laughed a lot and were on the prowl for how to fix, clean, or otherwise make better the places they visited. And like their dad, photos were always a part of the day.

And then there was her art. Having experimented with every type of media while raising four children, she settled on water color, bringing rich colors and shapes to a traditionally pastel media. She studied with several art teachers (Charles Cross in Pasadena and others) submitting her work for review at every art show and bank opening she could get into, including exhibits at the Wilshire Ebell, Barnsdall Park, LA County Fair International Art Show, San Gabriel Mission Art Exhibit, among many others. A patron of her work even hosted an exhibit in Wheeling, WV.

When Lamonta beckoned guests to her round Roycroft dining table in Hollywoodland, everyone knew they would grow more connected than before.  She held court at that table for over 60 years: a vibrant centroid of family life, where the trademark Lazy Susan shared hearty fare and even heartier laughter.  All birthdays were celebrated there. The rich round-table discussions and projects were part of being together as family, friends, or the local book club: creating indelible memories and lasting relationships for those blessed to connect around her table.

Lamonta was stationed in Beachwood Village at Hollywoodland Realty for 51 years.  She served everyone with the same good nature and keen eye.  And like every good Realtor with a 40-year pin, she knew every home on Mt. Lee and the wonderful people with whom she shared the best place in the world to live.

Lamonta, you are very much missed by your family, friends, and community.  You showed everyone you met there is a place for them in this world. What a gift!