Memorial Mass Services for Jess Andrew Pinkston, Jr. of Greenwood were at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 26 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church where he was a member of the choir and a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. Visitation will be at 10 a.m.

Jess was born in Forrest City, Arkansas, on January 8, 1927. Mr. Pinkston, 89, died after a brief illness on Saturday, July 23, 2016.

Jess was a true Ole Miss Rebel, master pool builder, and art collector. Jess spent two years as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He participated in the Campaign at Okinawa. He is a graduate of Greenwood High School where he was a excellent footfall player. He attended Washington Architectural Institution as well as Delta State University.

In 1952, Jess began building swimming pools and later founded Pinkston-Seablue, one of the mid-South’s premier swimming pool construction companies. His company specialized in custom-designed, gunite swimming pools, spas, and fountains. He was credited for building over 2,000 swimming pools in the Tri-state area.

Jess grew his business creatively and artistically. Jess was a founding member of the Greater Greenwood Foundation of the Arts. He was a Emeritus member of the Board of Directors of Greenwood Little Theatre. Jess has been involved with art museums including the Museum of the Mississippi Delta almost since its inception, Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, and Dixon Galleries.

His love of art began at an early age and he says he collected art that appealed to him. Over the years he befriended and influenced scores of artists with his eye for true talent. Among the artist whose work he collected were Bill Dunlap, Theora Hamlet, Karl Wolfe, Gaspare Ruffalo, Walter Anderson, William Hollingsworth, Streater Odom Spencer, Rita Holbrook, Mary Sims, Andrew Bucci, and Jamie Tate among others. He was one of the first collectors of McCarty Pottery in the late 60s and had a close life-time relationship with Pup and Lee McCarty. He was always searching for a painting or a sculpture that struck his fancy to add to his collection, saying, “You gotta have art.”

He was an avid Ole Miss supporter and followed football and baseball. One notable achievement was the invitation to build the Quadrangle University of Mississippi Fountain for the Phi Mu Sorority Chapter. He is remembered by many for making our state a more beautiful place to live. Pinkston’s fountains and idyllic pools of water are treasures.

He is survived by his life mate companion Sally Belle Scott of Oxford, and her children Heather and Richard Sellers and their children Sarah Scott and Jackson of Montgomery, Alabama. Alyssa and Keath Killebrew of Madison. William Scott Ellis of Austin, Texas. Mr. Pinkston leaves his five children, ten grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Son Jess Andrew (“Andy”) Pinkston, III and Karen of Greenwood, and grandchildren Andrea and Will Mims and great grandchildren Buck, Thomas, and Mary Lusco Long of Greenwood. Grandson Drew and Kitty Pinkston and great grandson James of Greenwood. Grand daughter Sara Pinkston and great grandson William of Greenwood. Daughter Charlotte and Danny Dale and grandson Daniel and Katie Dale and great grandson Daniel III of Glendora. Grandson Wood Dale of Jackson.  Son Jerry Pinkston of Greenwood. Daughter Mary August and Rhyne Howard and grandson Robert Rhyne and Michael of Greenwood. Daughter Holli and Bill Malouf and grandson Matthew of Memphis, Tennessee. Grand daughter Stella and Wilson Britt of Schlater. Grand daughter August Malouf of Nashville, Tennessee. He is also survived by his two brothers Charles and Italia Pinkston from Palm Coast, Florida. James (“Jimmy”) Warren Pinkston of Greenwood.

He was proceeded in death by an infant son Michael Gory Pinkston and great grandson Phillip Ross Long. His parents Jess Pinkston Sr. and Ada Pinkston of Greenwood and a sister Carolyn “Pinkie” Woodell of Yazoo City.

Pallbearers for the service will be his grandsons, Drew Pinkston, Daniel Dale, Wood Dale, Robert Rhyne Howard, Matthew Malouf, Buck Long, Michael Howard, and Thomas Long.

Memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Building Fund, Museum of the Mississippi Delta, Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or American Heart Association