Gladys Bletcher Pinkins

With grateful hearts and loving memories, we celebrate the beautiful life and legacy of Mrs. Gladys Lee Bletcher Pinkins.

Mrs. Gladys Lee Bletcher Pinkins, affectionately known as “Annie Will,” was born October 23, 1956, in Cuthbert, Randolph County, Georgia, to the late Clara Alford and Eddie Will Starling. Gladys was joined in Holy Matrimony to the late Tommy Lee “Butch” Pinkins, Sr. in 1973. To this union, four children were born: Tommy Lee Jr. (Hott Dogg), Mark Fitzgerald (Supa), Jessica (Lady), and Ashley (Cricket).

Gladys was a member of The Greater Union Missionary Baptist Church in Camilla, Georgia where she was an usher and served on other auxiliaries. She attended Randolph County Schools and later received her high school diploma from Southwest Georgia Institute in Albany, Georgia Graduating in the top percentile of her class.

At the age of seventeen, Gladys began working at Mitchell County Hospital in Camilla as a dietary aide and laundry attendant. Through dedication and hard work, she later became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She devoted over 30 years of service to Mitchell County Convalescent Center before retiring in 2009. After retirement, her passion for caring for others continued. She worked as a private duty nurse, sitting with patients one to two days each week until her health began to decline in early January 2026.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers Joseph Bletcher, W.C. “Sammie” Bletcher, and Lewis Shingles, and one great- grandchild Kacyan Pinkins. On Tuesday evening, March 3, 2026, while surrounded by the love, prayers, and presence of her family, God softly called His precious angel home at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories her four children: Tommy Lee Pinkins, Jr., Mark Fitzgerald Pinkins, Jessica Chiquita Pinkins, and Ashley Marquita Pinkins, all of Camilla, Georgia; nine grandchildren: Cartez J. Pinkins, Tesharia J. Pinkins, Chykira K. Carter, Shikezi J. Pinkins, Datasia Pinkins, Maleah Pinkins, Macy Williams, Neriah Pinkins, and Tyteonna Jones; and eleven great-grandchildren. She also leaves four loving siblings: Allen (Janice) Alford of Albany, Georgia; James (Melissa) Alford of LaGrange, Georgia; Eunice Hardwick of Cuthbert, Georgia; and Willie C. Cladd of St. Petersburg, Florida. She is also survived by her aunts and uncles: Annie (Issac) Cannon, Johnnie (Linda) Shingles, Wilburn (Earlene) Shingles, and J.D. Shingles. Gladys also leaves to cherish her memories of four sisters-in-law, Debra Pinkins (Jefferey W.) Marcus, Veronica Pinknis, Betty Jean Storey, and Mary Pinkins Bridges (Joseph); brothers-in-law, Robert “Sam” (Theresa/ Deceased) Pinkins and Leroy (Delores) Pinkins.

Gladys is fondly remembered by her special friend Willie Hayes, as well as close friends Cathleen Session, Willie Mae Walden, and Mildred Jackson. She is also survived by numerous nieces,