Dr. William Chappell Pinkston

William Chappell (Chappie) Pinkston of Ridgeland passed away in Seattle, WA following complications from a bone marrow transplant at the age of 62 on Saturday, March 5, 2011. Dr. Pinkston was born in Oxford, MS to William O. and Valeria Pinkston. His spouse Susan G. Pinkston of Ridgeland and his son, Christopher Ellis Pinkston of Austin, TX, survive him.

Chappie graduated from Oxford High School and the University of MS where he was a charter member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He completed Medical School, an Internship, Residency and Pulmonary Fellowship at the University of MS Medical Center. Upon graduation, Dr. Pinkston served in the Air Force where he became the Chief of Pulmonary Services at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS obtaining the rank was Major.

Upon completing his military service, Dr. Pinkston returned to Jackson where he was on the pulmonary staff at UMC. After leaving UMC, Dr. Pinkston co-founded Jackson Pulmonary Associates practicing pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine until 2002. Upon leaving Jackson Pulmonary Associates, Dr. Pinkston joined the staff of the G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center as Chief of Pulmonary and Respiratory Services. In August 2009 he returned to UMC to establish Intensiview, a visual, remote intensive care monitoring unit bringing to MS cutting edge technology in the monitoring of critical care patients. He was board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care. He was the President of the MS Thoracic Society, a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians serving as the MS Governor from 1987 to 1992, and a member of the MS Lung Association.

Dr. Pinkston’s passions in life were his son, patient advocacy, teaching medicine, flying his Cessna 206, mastering computer technology, music, and playing his guitar. Many hours were spent entertaining his friends with his humor and guitar playing.

A special acknowledgement goes out to Kathryn Roberson, a special friend.

His life will be celebrated with a visitation on Thursday, March 10, 2011 from 5 to 7PM and Friday from 10 to 11 AM at Christ United Methodist Church followed by a church service at 11 AM. Internment will be at Wright and Ferguson on Highland Colony Parkway.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the William C. Pinkston Lectureship in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Division, University of MS Medical Center, 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216.