Kimberly Pinkston

Kimberly Shawn Carzell Pinkston was born February 11, 1960, to the late Sammie Lee and Sarah Ruth Carzell in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She transitioned to her Heavenly home on January 4, 2024, at the age of 63. The oldest of Sam and Sarah’s three girls, Kimberly was a delight to all who encountered her. Growing up with bonus siblings in a family crafted by love and faith, Kimberly enjoyed a happy childhood. She propelled herself through life understanding the value of having a strong relationship
with God, commitment to her family, activism for people in her community, and, certainly, being a lifelong Steelers fan.

In her primary years, Kimberly was educated in the Pittsburgh Public School system, attending Crescent Elementary School and Wilkinsburg High School during her first year of high school. In August 1975, the Carzells relocated to Atlanta, Georgia where Kimberly attended Booker T. Washington High School, graduating in 1978. She attended the Art Institute of Atlanta where she obtained her degree in Merchandising and Fashion Design. Later, she attended Ashford University, earning a Master of Business Administration.

A Francophile in fashion, Kimberly always expressed an interest in all things creative. Her sense of fashion was precise and one of an eclectic nature as she had a keen ability to discern great quality and a high aesthetic standard. As a teen, she was selected by Rich’s Department Stores to be a Y-Teen Model and later served on Rich’s Teen Board. As a young adult, she modeled and developed fashion shows while simultaneously being recognized and selected as a premier model for global brands such as Ebony Fashion Fair and Bronner Brothers. Known as a creative genius and a force to be reckoned with, she continued to build a name for herself in the industry — walking runways across the world, capturing the attention of some of the most elite modeling agencies, fashion houses, and publications internationally. In her lifetime, she worked alongside legendary models, ultimately becoming a modeling instructor to some of the most prominent Black models in the industry to date.

After decades of being in the industry in various capacities, Kimberly created StudioWalk and StudioWalk Kids, providing professional modeling instruction but also helping to shape leaders and change industry mindsets. Always dedicated to her craft, she enthusiastically supported her modeling students, presenting them at New York and London Fashion Weeks and assisting many in securing jobs in print, fashion design, and modeling. She straddled a multitude of worlds — writing books, podcasting, making various television and radio appearances, even developing the Pretty in Pinkston skincare brand sold in Walmart stores.

Kimberly was greeted at the Pearly Gates with love as she was preceded in death by her loving parents, Sam and Sarah Carzell; maternal great-grandmother Velzie Morton of Dayton, OH; maternal grandparents Oscar James and Evie Louise Lindsey of Pittsburgh, PA; paternal grandparents Lillian World Saunders of Pittsburgh, PA and Samuel Lee Carzell of Macon, GA; siblings Mary Rainey of Macon, GA, Kenneth Carzell of Pittsburgh, PA, Spencer Carzell of Atlanta, GA, sister-cousin Celestine Minor of Atlanta, GA, and George Carzell of Pittsburgh, PA.

Leaving to cherish her beloved memory and continue her legacy are her devoted husband, Tony Pinkston of Jonesboro, GA; two daughters Samarah Carzell and Kristien King of Marietta, GA; sisters Marquetta Renee Carzell and Tracy Michele Carzell of Marietta, GA as well as siblings Sam Mitchell of Atlanta, Ga, Sam (Nikeyshi) Carzell of Pittsburgh, PA, Sondra Lee Carzell of Charlotte, NC, and Kathy Carzell; mother-in-law Eleanor Sue Pinkston of Macon, Ga, sister-in-law, Michelle (Lenardo) Sweet of Gray, GA; four grandchildren Cameron Haynes, Sarai Haynes, Jordan Haynes, and Sterling Hendricks of Marietta, GA; special niece Mercedes Brianna Elston of Atlanta, GA; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.