The funeral service of Lewis Mitchell Pinkins will be conducted Saturday, October, 23, 2010, at 11:00 a.m., at Union Missionary Baptist Church, 70 Thompson Street, Camilla. Reverend Charles Gilbert will officiate. Interment will follow in Oakview Cemetery.

Mr. Lewis (Louis) Mitchell Pinkins was the third eldest child born to the late Edward Sam Pinkins and the late Lula Mae Pinkins on March 25, 1943 in Mitchell County, Georgia. He was raised in a Christian home along with ten other siblings.

He attended Union Missionary Baptist Church during his stay in Camilla.

As a youngster, he enjoyed hanging out with his cousin and best buddy (Thomas Powell and Robin Williams). They were the three amigos and their game specialty was tire rolling.

Lewis attended Rockdale School and graduated from Camilla Consolidated School in the Class of 1960-61. All during high school he worked part time for Harley Palmer, Inc. After graduation he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to further his horizon-becoming a student and entrepreneur. Lewis moved back home after the passing of his father to help support the family until becoming ill.

Lewis met and courted his wife (Pernellia Bryant) while living in Thomasville, Georgia in the late sixties and early seventies. They united in Holy Matrimony in 1972. There were no children born to this union, but he endeared all of his nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. He resided in Valdosta, Georgia until the demise of his wife in August of 1998. He returned to Thomasville to live until his earthly departure.

Preceding him in death: his wife, both parents and three siblings, Willie James Pinkins, Lottie Mae Pinkins and Levander Pinkins.

Early Tuesday morning, October 19, 2010 at Southwestern Hospital, Lewis was called to rest.

He leaves to mourn four sisters: Mary Esther Pinkins Bridges of Miami, Florida, Debra Ann Pinkins (Jeffrey W.) Marcus of Atlanta, Georgia, Betty Jean Storey of Decatur, Georgia and Annie Doris Williams of Camilla, Georgia; six brothers: Luscious Benjamin Pinkins, Sr. of Pelham, Georgia, Robert Herman (Theresa) Pinkins, Sr. of Atlanta, Georgia, Edward Pinkins, Tommy Lee (Esther) Pinkins, Sr., Leroy (Delores) Pinkins, Sr., and Freddie Edwards, all of Camilla, Georgia; three aunts, Lucille Butler of Camilla, Georgia, Eva Dorothy Mitchell Smith Carter of Albany, Georgia and Bernice Chapman Mitchell of Baconton, Georgia; three sisters-in-law: Palestine Pinkins, Gladys Pinkins, both of Camilla, Georgia and Emma Pinkins of Albany, Georgia; a brother-in-law, Joseph Bridges of Valdosta, Georgia, the extended Pinkins Family, the Bostick Family, the Mitchell Family, the Simmons family and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the path God has laid, you see.
I took His hand when I heard His call.
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found the peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.