WILLIE PINKNEY
Willie "Bill" Pinkney, 81, departed this life on Wednesday, July 4, 2007, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Born in Dalzell on Aug. 15, 1925, he was a son of the late Murray Pinkney Sr. and Katie Smith Pinkney. He was educated in the public schools of Sumter County.
He was reared in a Christian home and at an early age accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and joined Mount Olive AME Church. Later in life he joined St. Luke AME Church, where he remained a member until his passing.
He voluntarily enlisted in the United States Army at age 17 in April 1943, during World War II. He received numerous awards, including a presidential citation with four Bronze Stars for the battles of Normandy, Saint Lo, Rhine River and Bostones.
After his military stint, his avocations were singing with gospel music quartets and pitching for the New York Pelicans and New York Blue Socks in the Negro National Baseball League.
In 1953, Pinkney, Clyde McPhatter, Gearhardt and Andrew Thrasher joined forces and became The Drifters. In 1988, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
Pinkney was the last surviving 1953 original member. He has used the trademarked name Original Drifters since 1958.
He received many more awards and recognitions for services rendered to his community and the state of South Carolina. He was an honorary Sumter County sheriff's deputy; he received an honorary fine arts doctorate from Coastal Carolina University; and South Carolina has established a state park at his Dalzell birthplace.
Bill leaves to cherish his memories: his children, Earthalee Pinkney Johnson, Marchelle Massey Sandoval, Dorothy Powell, Debra Pinkney Barber, Daryl Pinkney, Rhonda Pinkney Jefferson, Carletter Williams, Terry Woods Pinkney, Rodney Jefferson, Lakeshia Davis, Cathy Caruether, Qawiyy "Brent" Nasheed; three sons-in-law; two daughters-in-law; a brother, Henry Pinkney; two sisters, Eliza Pinkney Pearson and Jacquelyn Pinkney Mathis; two sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law; 25 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and special friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Alma Black Pinkney; a brother, Murray Pinkney Jr.; a sister, Bessie Hawkins; and one grandson, Willie Early Pinkney.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Sumter County Exhibition Center, 700 W. Liberty St., Sumter, with the Rev. Robert R. Hooper officiating, eulogist, assisted by the Revs. Sammie Gary, Clarence Hunter, Eliza Black, Charmaine Ragin-Whittleton and Timothy A. Johnson Sr.
The family will receive friends at his home, 300 Pine and Rowland streets, Sumter.
The remains will be placed in the church at noon. The funeral cortege will leave his home at 12:15 p.m.
Floral bearers will be ushers of St. Luke AME Church and friends of the family.
Pallbearers will be friends of the family. Honorary pallbearers will be The Original Drifters and the United States Army Military Honor.
Burial will be in the St. Luke AME Churchyard Cemetery.
Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr.com.
Visit us on the Web -- www.williamsfuneralhomeinc.com.
Services directed by the staff and management of Williams Funeral Home Inc.