Deacon Franklin Lee Pinckney, Sr.

Deacon Franklin L. Pinckney, Sr. was born in Walterboro, South Carolina to the late William and Mary Pinckney on April 15, 1938.

Franklin received his former education from the Public School System in Waycross, GA and graduated from Center High School in 1957. He received undergraduate degree from Bethune-Cookman College Daytona Beach, Fl where he received a four year musical scholarship. He later obtained his graduate degree from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. He continued his graduate studies at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA; Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA; and the University of Georgia, Athens, GA.  

He met the love of his life Ms. Peggy L Turner and was joined in Holy Matrimony on August 19, 1967.  This union was blessed with two children.

He served in the United States Army with a tour of duty in Germany and was later promoted to Non-commissioned Officer while in Europe. He was honorably discharged after serving four years as a NCO in the Army Reserve.

Franklin served as a classroom teacher at the former Lee Street High School in Blackshear, GA prior to being drafted into the US Army. Returning back to the workforce he was a classroom teacher, chorus director, assistant principal and principal in the former Waycross City School System. He then served as principal and assistant superintendent in charge of Personnel and Student Services in the Ware County School System. After retiring in 1995 from the Ware County School System he accepted the position of CEO of the McKinney Community Health Center of Ware County. That tenure lasted until his retirement in 1998 to further accept a position with Pitney Bowes Corporation.  

He is lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  

Some of his awards and honors include: Boy Scouts of America Central District “Award of Merit”, Rose Adams Council of Exceptional Children Award of Merit, Citation Award for Leadership presented by the local and Southern Regional chapters of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Law Enforcement Award for Leadership by the Waycross Police Department, Katherine A. Foss “Excellence in Education Award” by Waycross/Ware Chamber of Commerce and J.B. Hartley Award for “Outstanding Community Service’ by Kiwanis Club International.

 He was very active in National and State educational associations being a member of Treasurer of GSBA (Eight years), National School Boards Association, GA Association of Educators (Served on Board of Directors for three years), GA Association of Educational Leaders, GA Association of Elementary Principals, GA Association of Personnel Directors, GA Association of Primary Health Care and National Association of Community Health Centers

He was very active in community and educational organizations where he served as Past President of the Board of Directors of Ware County DFCS, Satilla Regional Foundation Foard of Directors, Ware County Board of Education for 15 years (Vice Chairman & Chairman), Member of Waycross Bi-Racial Committee, Executive Committee of the Okefenokee Council of BSA, Advisory Board of Ware County Mental Health Association, Board of Directors of Sacred Arts Center, Trinity UMC, Past President of Ware County Chapter of the GA Council on Child Abuse, Past President of the United Way of South GA, Inc. , Board of Trustees of Waycross College, Board of Directors of BB&T of Waycross, Past President of Waycross Kiwanis Club International, Past President of Southeast GA Rehabilitation, Inc. , Member of the United States Selective Service Board #40, Satilla Regional Hospital Board of Directors. He also served in several departments at the Waycross School Board and Community Associations.

Deacon Pinckney accepted Christ in his life at an early age. He joined Friendship Baptist Church and has served selflessly as Chairman of the following ministries: Deacon Board, Sunday School Board, Finance Committee and Church Program Committee until his death.

He departed his life Friday October 1, 2021 after a brief illness. In addition to his parents William and Mary Pinckney, he was also proceeded in death by an Aunt who helped raise him Mittie Toomer; siblings  Henry L Pinckney, Sr., Deloris Easton and Charla Mae Pryor; a brother in law Marvin Turner.

He leaves to celebrate his memory his wife Peggy Pinckney; Children Jandra Pinckney and Franklin Pinckney, Jr (Jutecia); Grandchildren Jaylen Pinckney, Anecia Lawrence and Franklin Pinckney III; Siblings William “PeeWee” Pinckney, Jr., Samuel (Eartha) Pinckney, Mary F. (Sylvester) Wright, Christine (Isaac) Bowman, Albertha McTeer, Juliette Green Williams; Brother in law James (Jeanene) Turner, Edward Pryor; Sister in law Gloria Turner and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends
Final and most sacred arrangements are entrusted to the professional care of Fluker Funeral Home, 985 Ossie Davis Parkway, Waycross, GA. 

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