Dr. Betty K. Pinkney laid to rest, Pinkney the executive director for the late Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader
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Dr Betty K. Pinkney
The Pinkney family at the graveside service of Dr Betty K. Pinkney
Former Cleveland judge C. Ellen Connally and retired Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold at Pinkney's graveside service.
CLEVELAND, Ohio-Dr. Betty K. Pinkney was laid to rest Monday afternoon at a graveside service at the Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland.
Services were entrusted to E.F. Boyd & Son Funeral home and drew the Who's Who of Greater Cleveland, including dignitaries and judges.
Pinkney passed away March 2 at her home, surrounded by family. She was 90.
Among those attending to pay their respects at Monday's graveside service were 8th District Court of Appeals Judge Emmanuella Groves, Retired Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold, former Cleveland judge C. Ellen Connally, who is also a former Cuyahoga County Council president, and Democratic political strategist Brenda Hall.
Dr. Betty K. Pinkney, Esq. was born on August 27, 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio, the seventh of eight children to Naomi Inez and Emmett Maceo Butts. She was raised in the Kinsman neighborhood of Cleveland and attended St. John AME Church as a child.
Betty learned the value of hard work, education and community service from her parents' examples. She attended Cleveland Public Schools and graduated from Central High School at age 16. She later earned a bachelor of arts degree in social work from Central State University.
Betty earned a master of education degree from Case Western Reserve University and later earned a law degree from Cleveland State John Marshall College of Law and a PhD in public affairs from Cleveland State University Levin College of Urban Affairs.
Betty married her life partner and best friend, Photographer/Artist Charles J. Pinkney, in 1957, and the couple created a loving family. Betty was her husband's and children's biggest cheerleader!
Beginning her professional life as a social worker and special education teacher, Betty later worked for the Cleveland Public School System as an elementary school teacher. Throughout her life, people stopped to remind her that she had been their teacher and how she had influenced them. Betty continued to work for the school system as an attorney and played a pivotal role in the desegregation of the Cleveland Public Schools under the late Federal District Judge Frank J. Battisti. Her work helped advance fairness and opportunity for countless students, Black students in particular.
During her legal career, Betty worked for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the law offices of the late Carl J. Character, the law offices of LaVerne Boyd, and was the lead litigator for the East Ohio Gas Company. Betty was a member of various boards of trustees such as the Cleveland Natural History Museum and the College of Podiatry. She was a member of Leadership Cleveland and was recognized by Who's Who in Cleveland.
Betty became dear friends with her Delta Sigma Theta soror, the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Ohio's first Black female congresswoman. That friendship grew into a powerful force with Betty managing Stephanie's campaigns and later serving as the district director for the Congresswoman. She helped strengthen relationships among federal leadership, educational institutions and faith communities throughout the district.
Betty never met a stranger. Her family's friends became her friends. Her children's friends became her children. Betty was the definition of a "Go Giver". She gave so much and asked for very little in return.
Betty leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband Charles J. Pinkney; daughter, Jacqueline Pinkney-Royster (Ronald B.); daughter, Rev. Pamela M. Pinkney; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, associates, and friends.
Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com are the most-read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio. Tel. 216-659-0473. Email-editor@clevelandurbannews.com
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