Manuel Pinkard, 81, of Chattanooga, died on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005, after a brief stay in a local hospital.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Virginia Moore Pinkard; parents, John and Lula Mae; brother, Nathaniel Pinkard Sr., and a sister, Willie Mae Johnson.
He united with Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church at an early age, served faithfully as a member of the men’s choir, the senior usher board, and as a Sunday school teacher and deacon board chairman. He was a member of the Masonic Order, in which he obtained 33 degrees, and also became a Shriner. One noted distinction was "Mason of the Year" in 1997.
He was a graduate of the Howard High School Class of 1942. He was a longtime employee of Combustion Engineering and U.S. Pipe & Foundry.
He is survived by his four children, Lillian and Frederick Pinkard of Chattanooga, Charles Pinkard of Philadelphia, PA, and Alfred Pinkard of Cincinnati, OH; four grandchildren, Lisa, Reuben, Khenan and Khesa; a sister, Sarah Ballard of Dayton, OH; two daughters-in-law, Lela and Floyretta; sister-in-law, Minnie Pinkard, of Nashville; several other relatives, nieces, nephews and friends, and a devoted friend, Mrs. Effie Tuggle.
The funeral will be Saturday, at noon at Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Harold K. Lester officiating.
Burial will be in Highland Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday from 2-7 p.m. at the church with the family hour from 6-7 p.m. Mount Moriah Lodge 14 will perform a masonic ceremony at 6 p.m.
Arrangements are by Pinkard & Mee Funeral Service. 267-2683. Note: Deliver all flowers to the church Friday.