Elbert Lee Brinkley

Elbert Lee (Everett) Brinkley, 79, died peacefully Monday, March 21, 2005, at Pisgah Manor Nursing Center following a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was the son of the late Edward and Ada Ingle Brinkley. He served in the US Army and later transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division. He was employed by the City of Asheville Fire Department for 27 years before retiring as Captain. He was a member of Pole Creek Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Pauline Emery Brinkley; two daughters Karen Brinkley of Simpsonville, SC and Clara Brinkley Banks and her husband Rev. Dale Banks of Burnsville; three grandchildren, Linda Bennett of Arden, Michael Banks and Lenny Banks of Burnsville; eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Rowena Goodson of Candler and Margie Moore of Asheville; and a special niece Dorothy Mae Wilson. Graveside services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park with the Revs. G.W. Jameson and Dennis Thurman officiating. The Buncombe County Firefighters Honor Guard will provide honors. His family will receive friends from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue. Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, William Black Medical Building, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032-9982.