Arlene H (Harris) Pinkard

Arlene Pinkard Obituary Arlene Edna Mae Pinkard was born January 27 , 1932 to the union of Sarah Ruth ( Kane) Harris and Elvie Harris in Cleveland, Ohio. A lifelong Cleveland resident she attended Cleveland Public schools, Bolton Elementary, Rawlings Junior High and John Hay High School. Arlene was baptized at Antioch Baptist church at the age of twelve. She sang in the choir and would accompany her mother to social gatherings where her mother would play the piano and she would sing like Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. As a child she learned to play the piano,skate and would go to the PlaMor. Arlene was also athletic , playing tennis and running track. Arlene married Lawrence Moore,Jr. in May 1950 which interrupted her high school senior year. To that union was born Shelton L. Moore. She became a single parent raising two young children at the age of 24. She did Day work cleaning houses and babysitting for the well to do, in addition she was a nurses aide, temporary postal employee and waitress. Undaunted and truly a believer in education Arlene went back to school as an adult and attended the Cleveland Extension Highschool to complete her senior year and receiving her diploma at the age of 30.During that period she attended Mt. Esther Baptist Church eventually moving her membership to Messiah Baptist Church. Arlene was determined to continue her education and decided to take Nursing classes at Tri-C college and eventually passing the State Board in Columbus,Ohio and later landing a job as a Mental Health Nurse for the State of Ohio, where her career spanned nearly 30 years and finally retiring in 1992. Arlene was a people person, full of joy of the Lord. As a mental health nurse she rose to the position of Area Supervisor LPN. This allowed her to work with the staff training them to teach patients how to care for themselves and prepare some to live in halfway houses and return to the community. While working for the state of Ohio she met James A. Pinkard ( Pete) through mutual friends and they married. Pete was a hard working man who helped her to raise Sheldon and Linda who both eventually graduated form college. Pete passed away in 1991.While caring for his grave with her grandson at Hoghland Park Cemetery, she met a wonderful,loving cemetery caretaker named Lonnie Harris. They were inseparable from 1995 until she entered Eliza Bryant Nursing facility in 2017. Arlene joined the Damascus Missionary Baptist Church in 1991. She became a church nurse under the tutelage of Mother Anna Mae King. They traveled to regional and state conventions and represented Damascus at nursing events throughout the city and beyond. Arlene was a soprano singer in the choir and organized the Nursettes, who took over as the pulpit assistants from the Junior ushers. She called her Nursettes the ABCD's which stood for the first letters of their names, Anna Crosby, Brianna Anderson, Carletta Harrell, Diana Dawson and Shapelle Lilly. They were taught by the Cleveland Red Cross candy stripe church nurse classes and were a source of pride to Arlene. Arlene would take them on luncheon outings and tried to always recognize their birthdays. Her smile and demeanor can be summed up by her philosophy on life from her Mission Sunday word spoken January 30, 1993, to each day " Set your Sails for Joy" taken from Philippians 2:14-16. Arlene's mobility disabled her and she was unable to continue attending church but her faith never waivered and her joy remained. Even while confined at home she was party central for all holidays, birthdays, cookouts, social gatherings, and Sunday dinners. She continued her study of God's Word with her bible, Daily Bread, Daily Word, and In Touch. her favorite book of the Bible was Philippians. her telephone became her lifeline while in the nursing home and she had a constant stream of visitors at the Eliza Bryant Village until the coronavirus restrictions curtailed them. Arlene loved to read, sew, do crossword puzzles, flower gardening, baking, and was an awesome cook. Arlene was transferred to Landerbrook Transitional Care Center in August 2020 and her health sharply declined. She entered Hillcrest Hospital On November 9, 2020 and came home with family for hospice care as her final wish on November 22, 2020. Arlene's memory will be cherished by her son, Shelton Moore ( Jennifer), daughter, Linda Elder ( William), stepson larry Moore, loving life partner, Lonnie Harris, grandchildren; Theresa Moore ( Jean Downing),Patrice elder, Tiffany Benison ( DeWayne), Quenton Moore ( G'Naun Haymon),great-grand children; Daniel and Isaiah Benison, Taylor Moore, Au'Ryah Moore, One brother, Donald Barksdale, bonus grandchildren; Aesha Blue, Clarence Kilburn lll, and henry Kilburn ( Kathia), special sister, Fredetta Gray, devoted play son, Russell Frazier and a host of nieces,nephews, and friends. ** FACE MASKS and SOCIAL DISTANCING** required. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Arlene H (Harris) Pinkard, please visit our floral store. Read More

Arlene H (Harris) Pinkard

January 27, 1932 - November 23, 2020