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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2006 Contact: African American Community Service Agency (408) 292-3157 sjaacsa@yahoo.com San Jose Remembers the Legacy of Rev. Dr. M. Samuel Pinkston In Memoriam San Jose, CA –The Rev. Dr. M. Samuel Pinkston, one of the founding members of the African American Community Service Agency and Pastor Emeritus of Antioch Baptist Church passed away on November 8, 2006 in San Jose, California. Funeral services will be held at Antioch Baptist Church on Saturday, November 18th in San Jose, California. The Reverend, Doctor M. Samuel Pinkston was a native of Camden, New Jersey, where he grew up in a family of seven sons and one daughter. After graduating from high school, a single semester at Virginia Union University was interrupted by three years of Army service, culminating in a battlefield commission as Second Lieutenant, resulting from bravery and outstanding performance. “Dr. Pinkston was such a great contributor to our community,” said a statement issued from the African American Community Service Agency’s President, Shawneequa Badger. “Dr. Pinkston’s work in this community continues to open doors for so many people today. His kindness and devotion to serving others is what made him such an inspiring leader.” Using the G.I. Bill, Dr. Pinkston received his B.A. degree in 1949 from Gordon College in Boston. His seminary work was done at Temple University, School of Theology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From here, he received the Master of Divinity degree in 1952. In 1969, he received his Master’s degree in Social Work from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in June 1977 from the California Graduate School of Theology in New Testament Church History. Dr. Pinkston was a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and held a lifetime California secondary teaching credential in five disciplines. He was an adjunct professor at San Jose State University in the Afro-American Studies Department for eight years. He was also a part-time instructor at San Jose Bible College. Fifty-seven years have been served in the Gospel Ministry, including assistant to the pastor of his home church, Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church in Camden, New Jersey. He has thirty years in pastorates in Rhode Island, New Jersey, and California, and five years service on the staff of American Baptist Churches of the West, with the portfolio of Minister of Public Ministries and East Bay Area Minister. It was from this position he accepted the call to become the pastor of Antioch Baptist church in September, 1974. Dr. Pinkston was past president of the Interdenominational Ministers’ Alliance of San Jose. He was a former Commissioner of the Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission, former member of the San Jose Downtown Redevelopment Commission under former Mayor Janet Gray Hayes, and served as a member of the Special Minorities Committee, appointed by mayor Tom McEnery. He was also a member of the NAACP, the Urban League, and served on the Board of the United Negro College Fund. In 1978, Dr. Pinkston along with several other community members founded the African American Community Service Agency in San Jose. The African American Community Service Agency is still managed under the same mission statement that was established by its founding members in 1978. Upon his retirement as Senior Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in 1988, he was named Pastor Emeritus. In subsequent years, he served in five churches as Pastor for the Interim. These assignments were in Delaware, Indiana, New York, and Washington. He and his wife returned to the San Jose area in September 1999 and took up permanent residence. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Esther, as well as, two sons, Moses Samuel Jr. and Steven Alan (Lenora), and four grand children, Moses Samuel III, Chadra Zipporah, Aaron Jordan, and Lauren Michal. A quiet hour and video tribute will be held at 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, 2006. Services will be held at Antioch Baptist Church, 268 East Julian Street, San Jose, California, 95112. Donations in his memory may be made to the M.L. King/C.W. Washington Scholarship fund at Antioch Baptist Church. A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.legacy.com |