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Sarah's mother, Marcella, was born in an underground [[American Indian]] sod dwelling near tiny Fairvalley in Woods County in north central [[Oklahoma]]. Marcella's grandparents, William Henry Morris (1833-1901) and the former Mary J. Barter (born 1838), had been among the pioneers who staked out 160 acres in the Oklahoma Land Rush. W. H. Morris was born Monmouth County, [[New Jersey]]. Prior to the [[American Civil War]], he came to Linn County, [[Iowa]], where in 1855, he married the 16-year-old Mary Barter. He then attended medical school in Keokuk, Iowa, having completed his instruction in 1864. The couple later moved to Oklahoma; three years after his death, Mary B. Morris was still living in Alva in Woods County, Oklahoma.

Sarah's mother, Marcella, was born in an underground [[American Indian]] sod dwelling near tiny Fairvalley in Woods County in north central [[Oklahoma]]. Marcella's grandparents, William Henry Morris (1833-1901) and the former Mary J. Barter (born 1838), had been among the pioneers who staked out 160 acres in the Oklahoma Land Rush. W. H. Morris was born Monmouth County, [[New Jersey]]. Prior to the [[American Civil War]], he came to Linn County, [[Iowa]], where in 1855, he married the 16-year-old Mary Barter. He then attended medical school in Keokuk, Iowa, having completed his instruction in 1864. The couple later moved to Oklahoma; three years after his death, Mary B. Morris was still living in Alva in Woods County, Oklahoma.

Hudson-Pierce traces her ancestry in the future United States to [[Lewis Morris (governor)|Lewis Morris]] (1671-1746), the [[Great Britain|British]] governor of New Jersey from 1738 until his death. Previously Lewis Morris had been royal governor of the New York colony, which included New Jersey prior to the separation in 1738. This Lewis Morris' grandson, also [[Lewis Morris]] (1719-1798), was a landowner and developer who in 1776 signed the [[Declaration of Independence]] as a representative at the [[Second Continental Congress]] from [[New York (state)|New York]]. Lewis Morris was a half-brother of [[Gouverneur Morris]] (1752-1816), the [[New York City]] native who was editor-in-chief of the [[United States Constitution]] and author of its [[Preamble to the U.S. Constitution|preamble]].

Hudson-Pierce traces her ancestry in the future United States to [[Lewis Morris]] (1671-1746), the [[Great Britain|British]] governor of New Jersey from 1738 until his death. Previously Lewis Morris had been royal governor of the New York colony, which included New Jersey prior to the separation in 1738. This Lewis Morris' grandson, also [[Lewis Morris]] (1719-1798), was a landowner and developer who in 1776 signed the [[Declaration of Independence]] as a representative at the [[Second Continental Congress]] from [[New York (state)|New York]]. Lewis Morris was a half-brother of [[Gouverneur Morris]] (1752-1816), the [[New York City]] native who was editor-in-chief of the [[United States Constitution]] and author of its preamble.

Before her third birthday, Marcella Morris was playing on the soft dirt roof of her dwelling. She slipped, fell through the roof, sustained brain damage, and lapsed into a coma. Marcella's mother, meanwhile, was dying of [[typhoid fever]] when this accident occurred. Marcella's six-year-old brother, Jimmy, had died of the fever some six weeks earlier. Marcella's father left his two daughters in the care of a kindly neighbor, Clara Knox, who became Marcella's foster mother. In 1914, Marcella's father remarried, and Marcella, at the age of eight, left the security of life with Clara. Marcella did not marry until she was in her late thirties and then only after her father, Sarah's grandfather, had died. Having lived into her nineties, Clara thereafter told Sarah of the tragic circumstances of Marcella's life.

Before her third birthday, Marcella Morris was playing on the soft dirt roof of her dwelling. She slipped, fell through the roof, sustained brain damage, and lapsed into a coma. Marcella's mother, meanwhile, was dying of [[typhoid fever]] when this accident occurred. Marcella's six-year-old brother, Jimmy, had died of the fever some six weeks earlier. Marcella's father left his two daughters in the care of a kindly neighbor, Clara Knox, who became Marcella's foster mother. In 1914, Marcella's father remarried, and Marcella, at the age of eight, left the security of life with Clara. Marcella did not marry until she was in her late thirties and then only after her father, Sarah's grandfather, had died. Having lived into her nineties, Clara thereafter told Sarah of the tragic circumstances of Marcella's life.

Roy Hudson died, and Sarah lived with Marcella for four years. Marcella subsisted by taking odd jobs but became unable to care for Sarah. Hence, at the age of fourteen, Sarah began living in the foster home of the late Cullen and Martha Adair of Grove in Delaware County in  northeastern Oklahoma. Sarah was later placed in an orphanage, the Turley Children's Home, now known as Hope Harbor, in [[Claremore, Oklahoma|Claremore]] near [[Tulsa]]. She resided at Turley from 1962 to 1966.

Roy Hudson died, and Sarah lived with Marcella for four years. Marcella subsisted by taking odd jobs but became unable to care for Sarah. Hence, at the age of fourteen, Sarah began living in the foster home of the late Cullen and Martha Adair of Grove in Delaware County in  northeastern Oklahoma. Sarah was later placed in an orphanage, the Turley Children's Home, now known as Hope Harbor, in Claremore near [[Tulsa]]. She resided at Turley from 1962 to 1966.

Hudson-Pierce graduated in 1966 from McLain High School in Tulsa. Marcella lived for another three decades, having died in the nursing home in Grove. While she was in the eleventh grade at McLain, Sarah turned to creative writing and public speaking. From 1966 to 1967, she attended the [[conservative]] [[Church of Christ]]-affiliated [[Harding University]] (then College) in Searcy in White County, north of the capital city of [[Little Rock]].<ref>"Dedication to writing brings success", [[Harding College]] ''Alumni News'', Spring 1998.</ref>

Hudson-Pierce graduated in 1966 from McLain High School in Tulsa. Marcella lived for another three decades, having died in the nursing home in Grove. While she was in the eleventh grade at McLain, Sarah turned to creative writing and public speaking. From 1966 to 1967, she attended the [[conservative]] [[Church of Christ]]-affiliated Harding University (then College) in Searcy in White County, north of the capital city of [[Little Rock]].<ref>"Dedication to writing brings success", Harding College ''Alumni News'', Spring 1998.</ref>

==Author==

==Author==

Successful Ritz books have included: ''Stone Justice'' (2001) by Debi King McMartin and Lyn Morgan, which details the tragic life of [[Toni Jo Henry]] of Shreveport, who on November 28, 1942, became the only woman ever to have been executed in Louisiana's [[electric chair]]. Henry's story has been compared to that of [[Karla Faye Tucker]] in [[Texas]], executed in 1998. The motion picture ''The Pardon'', filmed in Shreveport, is adapted from ''Stone Justice''.<ref>Alexandyr Kent, "'The Pardon', a locally produced feature, begins shooting May 15", ''The Shreveport Times'', April 28, 2007</ref>  

Successful Ritz books have included: ''Stone Justice'' (2001) by Debi King McMartin and Lyn Morgan, which details the tragic life of [[Toni Jo Henry]] of Shreveport, who on November 28, 1942, became the only woman ever to have been executed in Louisiana's [[electric chair]]. Henry's story has been compared to that of [[Karla Faye Tucker]] in [[Texas]], executed in 1998. The motion picture ''The Pardon'', filmed in Shreveport, is adapted from ''Stone Justice''.<ref>Alexandyr Kent, "'The Pardon', a locally produced feature, begins shooting May 15", ''The Shreveport Times'', April 28, 2007</ref>  

Still another Ritz publication, ''Will Somebody Call the Coroner?'', is an [[autobiography]] of Caddo Parish [[Coroner]] Dr. Willis P. Butler (1888–1963), with the preface by the late Shreveport historian [[Eric John Brock]].<ref>[[Eric John Brock]], Shreveport historian, ''The Forum'' magazine, November 10, 2004</ref><ref>Eric J. Brock obituary, ''Shreveport Times'', December 3, 2011</ref> Ritz Publications also offers Sarah Dorsey's ''Recollections of [[Henry Watkins Allen]]'', an updated 2004 study of Louisiana's [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] governor. Dorsey owned the [[Biloxi, Mississippi|Biloxi]] estate [[Beauvoir (Biloxi, Mississippi)|Beauvoir]] and was a benefactor of Confederate President [[Jefferson Davis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beauvoir.org/complete.html#sdorsey|title=Beauvoir|publisher=beauvoir.org|accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref>

Still another Ritz publication, ''Will Somebody Call the Coroner?'', is an [[autobiography]] of Caddo Parish [[Coroner]] Dr. Willis P. Butler (1888–1963), with the preface by the late Shreveport historian [[Eric John Brock]].<ref>[[Eric John Brock]], Shreveport historian, ''The Forum'' magazine, November 10, 2004</ref><ref>Eric J. Brock obituary, ''Shreveport Times'', December 3, 2011</ref> Ritz Publications also offers Sarah Dorsey's ''Recollections of Henry Watkins Allen'', an updated 2004 study of Louisiana's [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] governor. Dorsey owned the Biloxi estate [[Beauvoir]] and was a benefactor of Confederate President [[Jefferson Davis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beauvoir.org/complete.html#sdorsey|title=Beauvoir|publisher=beauvoir.org|accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref>

Another Ritz release is ''Tinkerbelle'', the story of Robert Manry, a ''[[The Plain Dealer|Plain Dealer]]'' ([[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]) copy editor who in 1965 solo-navigated the smallest [[sailboat]] ever across the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]]. Ritz offers a rare book, ''Our Baby's History'' (1898), by the American artist Frances Brundage, particularly known for her depictions of wide-eyed [[Victorian era|Victorian]] children.

Another Ritz release is ''Tinkerbelle'', the story of Robert Manry, a ''[[The Plain Dealer|Plain Dealer]]'' ([[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]) copy editor who in 1965 solo-navigated the smallest sailboat ever across the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]]. Ritz offers a rare book, ''Our Baby's History'' (1898), by the American artist Frances Brundage, particularly known for her depictions of wide-eyed [[Victorian era|Victorian]] children.

In 2009, Ritz published ''Jerry Wray: Pioneer Artist Of The South'' by Shreveport artist Jerry Wray. That same year, Ritz published ''Mama's Boys'', a novel by Matt Whitehead, a journalist and a former child protective services worker. Another 2009 publication is ''Investing Without A Net'' a collection of short vignettes by Shreveport author Larry LaBorde, the owner of a silver trading company and a local family-owned oil business.  

In 2009, Ritz published ''Jerry Wray: Pioneer Artist Of The South'' by Shreveport artist Jerry Wray. That same year, Ritz published ''Mama's Boys'', a novel by Matt Whitehead, a journalist and a former child protective services worker. Another 2009 publication is ''Investing Without A Net'' a collection of short vignettes by Shreveport author Larry LaBorde, the owner of a silver trading company and a local family-owned oil business.  

Another book available throuth Ritz is ''Gardening to Attract Butterflies: The Beauty and the Beast'' by Loice Kendrick-Lacy of Haynesville in northern Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. The book begins with Kendrick-Lacy as a young girl introduced to butterflies by her grandmother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.lpb.org/LNWMK0447_iPod.mp4|title=Loice Kendrick-Lacy|publisher=media.lpb.org|accessdate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>  

Another book available throuth Ritz is ''Gardening to Attract Butterflies: The Beauty and the Beast'' by Loice Kendrick-Lacy of Haynesville in northern Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. The book begins with Kendrick-Lacy as a young girl introduced to butterflies by her grandmother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.lpb.org/LNWMK0447_iPod.mp4|title=Loice Kendrick-Lacy|publisher=media.lpb.org|accessdate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>  

Ritz is also the publicist for James Robertson's biography of his brother, [[Phil Robertson]], from the [[Arts and Entertainment Network]] [[television series]], ''[[Duck Dynasty]]''. The book is entitled ''The Legend Of The Duck Commander''. In 2012, James Robertson was interviewed on LPB's "Authors in Shreveport" feature at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.lpb.org/LNWMK0447_iPod.mp4|title=James Robertson|publisher=[[Louisiana Public Broadcasting]]|accessdate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>

 

Ritz is also the publicist for James Robertson's biography of his brother, Phil Robertson, from the Arts and Entertainment Network [[television series]], ''[[Duck Dynasty]]''. The book is entitled ''The Legend Of The Duck Commander''. In 2012, James Robertson was interviewed on LPB's "Authors in Shreveport" feature at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.lpb.org/LNWMK0447_iPod.mp4|title=James Robertson|publisher=Louisiana Public Broadcasting|accessdate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>

In 2013, Ritz published the [[World War II]] memoir, ''A Time to Remember'' by Ken Cochran.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ktbs.com/story/22260768/arklatex-best-vivian-soldier|title=''A Time to Remember'' by Ken Cochran|publisher=KTBS-TV|accessdate=April 24, 2013}}</ref>

In 2013, Ritz published the [[World War II]] memoir, ''A Time to Remember'' by Ken Cochran.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ktbs.com/story/22260768/arklatex-best-vivian-soldier|title=''A Time to Remember'' by Ken Cochran|publisher=KTBS-TV|accessdate=April 24, 2013}}</ref>

Sarah left college in 1967 to marry Charles Edwin Pierce (born 1941), a minister in the Church of Christ, originally from Falcon in Nevada County near Magnolia in south Arkansas. The couple has three children: Robin Lynette Pierce (born 1969) of Shreveport, Perry Loyce Pierce (born 1970) of [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], and Jeremy Winter Pierce (born 1976) of Searcy, Arkansas. There are two grandchildren. Hudson-Pierce has an older sister, Alice H. Roberts of Bastrop, Texas.

Sarah left college in 1967 to marry Charles Edwin Pierce (born 1941), a minister in the Church of Christ, originally from Falcon in Nevada County near Magnolia in south Arkansas. The couple has three children: Robin Lynette Pierce (born 1969) of Shreveport, Perry Loyce Pierce (born 1970) of [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], and Jeremy Winter Pierce (born 1976) of Searcy, Arkansas. There are two grandchildren. Hudson-Pierce has an older sister, Alice H. Roberts of Bastrop, Texas.

Quoting [[M. Scott Peck]], [[psychiatrist]] and author of ''The Road Less Traveled'', Hudson-Pierce says that "Life is difficult. ... It is in the attaining of goals that we blossom and grow. ... I know that [[God]] is the source of my strength and that without Him, I am nothing. ..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mscottpeck.com/html/scott-peck.html|author=M. Scott Peck|title=The Road Less Traveled: New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth|location=[[New York City]]|publisher= Simon & Schuster|date=1978|accessdate=February 9, 2011}}</ref>

Quoting [[M. Scott Peck]], [[psychiatrist]] and author of ''The Road Less Traveled'', Hudson-Pierce says that "Life is difficult. ... It is in the attaining of goals that we blossom and grow. ... I know that [[God]] is the source of my strength and that without Him, I am nothing. ..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mscottpeck.com/html/scott-peck.html|author=[[M. Scott Peck]]|title=The Road Less Traveled: New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth|location=[[New York City]]|publisher= Simon & Schuster|date=1978|accessdate=February 9, 2011}}</ref>

==References==

==References==