Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

December 30, 2025

Francis Morris Pinckney died peacefully on December 30th, 2025 at the Southminster Hospice House in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born in Columbia, South Carolina on March 21, 1935 to Francis Morris Pinckney (Sr) and Caroline Walker Pinckney. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1957. He married his wife of 67 years Diana Brown in 1958. He served 2 years as an officer in the U.S. Navy. After the Navy, they moved to Washington DC where Francis earned his law degree from George Washington University. Francis worked in the US Patent Office in Washington DC during the day to put himself through law school, becoming Editor of the George Washington Law Review and graduating with honors. Upon graduation, Francis and Diana moved to Charlotte in 1963 where he joined the intellectual property law firm of Richards and Shefte that later became Richards, Shefte and Pinckney. The firm merged with the Kennedy Covington law firm in 1997 where Francis served as a partner until retiring in 2010. He had a remarkable career representing many local, national and international clients and appeared before the US Supreme Court. Francis had an undivided loyalty and devotion to all of those that he represented. He served as President of the Mecklenburg Bar Association in 1983 and several terms as a Councilor to the NC State Bar.

Francis loved the law. He was extremely fond of his law partners Dalbert Shefte, Karl Sawyer and Susan Jackson. Francis appreciated everyone in his law firm, including his paralegals and secretaries. He was loved and respected by the Charlotte legal community.

Devoted to helping others and always a champion of the underdog, Francis worked with and supported many local charities. His primary passion was feeding the hungry and he never understood how anyone could be malnourished in such a wealthy community. He served on the Charlotte Area’s Hunger Task Force. He spoke before the N.C. Legislature and called for them to do more to better distribute Food Stamps to those in need throughout the state. When promises were left unkept, the Charlotte Observer wrote an editorial about his efforts titled “An Angry Man.” Helping others was always a given for him.

Francis and Diana were avid travelers and enjoyed many trips in the US and abroad. Francis had a particular affinity for travel to places to observe wildlife in their natural habitat. He loved all animals and enjoyed bird watching. An avid sports fan, Francis was a dedicated Carolina Panthers and South Carolina Gamecocks’ fan. He always looked forward to attending games with his family. In later years, he and Diana never missed watching a Panthers game, including in the hospital during his final days. He was a passionate tennis player and golfer at the Charlotte Country Club and won the NC State Bar tennis tournament on several occasions with his long-time partner and good friend Ace Walker.

After living on Malvern Road in Charlotte for over 50 years, Francis and Diana moved to Southminster in 2018, where he enjoyed his bridge group and the Saturday men’s lunch gatherings. Francis had many friends both at Southminster and throughout Charlotte.

Francis is survived by his wife Diana, children Francis (Dank) Morris Pinckney III and wife Helen Connell Pinckney, and Milby Burton Pinckney. His beloved daughter Elizabeth Barnes Pinckney died in 2017. He was a fun and loving grandfather to his 3 grandchildren, Eleanor St. Clair Pinckney, Amanda Walker Pinckney and Thomas Francis Pinckney. They brought invaluable joy to his life and he was extremely proud of them, as he was of his 3 children. He is also survived by nieces Louise Courts (Andy) and Caroline Laney (Roy), nephew Cooper Smith, Jr, and cousins Tom and Carol Pinckney. All of his family is forever grateful to have had Francis as a part of their lives. His honesty, integrity and love will never be forgotten.

The family is grateful for the devoted staff at Southminster who took such expert and tender care of Francis in his last months.

A service to celebrate Francis' life will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, January 5, 2026 at Southminster, 8919 Park Road, Charlotte 28210 followed by a reception. The family will host a visitation from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, January 4 at 2100 Radcliffe Avenue, Charlotte 28207.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Francis may be made to the Crisis Assistance Ministry or the Charlotte Humane Society.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.