Kristin Jeanne Pinkston

Kristin Jeanne Pinkston passed away on Tuesday, August 29 at Levine & Dickson Hospice House in South Charlotte after battling breast cancer since January 2016. She was preceded in death by her mother: Jeanne Griep of Charlotte, NC, father and stepmother: John and Tina Griep of Albemarle, NC, and niece: Tina Jordan of Charleston, SC. Kristi was born March 19, 1963, in Charlotte, NC. She graduated from Myers Park High School in 1981. After she married in 1983, she began a career at Wachovia Bank, where she worked for several years until she became a mother. She had two sons, John and Mark Pinkston. After raising her children, Kristi went back to school and obtained her nursing degree in 2013. She worked as a hospital based nurse at Carolinas Medical Center in Monroe, NC, and then at a wound care center in Lancaster, SC. She genuinely loved her patients and treated them with gentle kindness and empathy. She enjoyed her nursing career until the cancer forced her to stop working in March 2016. Kristi's love and compassion for people and animals showed in all she did and she long embraced the little things in life that most of us forget to enjoy - the rise of the moon on a cloudless night, the soft strains of music at an after hours coffee shop or cafe, a glass of wine with a friend, and the warm nuzzling touch of many a furry friend. Kristi never met an animal she didn't love but she had a special place in her heart for dogs, birds, and of all things, hippopotamuses. Her house was filled with hippos of various shapes and sizes and she knew and loved each and every one of them. She loved to laugh and her laughter was contagious, spreading joy to all those around with her wit and humor. She encouraged others in her life to let go of the things that don't matter and focus on the things that do - good food, good friends, good health, and the faith and hope that come only from knowing God. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law: John and Clara Pinkston of Charlotte, NC, son: Mark Pinkston of Charlotte, NC, brother and sister-in-law: Brad and Kim Griep of Glendale, AZ, stepbrother: Greg Rutledge of Concord, NC, stepsister and brother-in-law: Jodi and Paul Jordan of Concord, NC, and a host of extended family including nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She also had a core group of special friends that she lovingly referred to as her soul sisters. Though she is gone from our lives today, those of us who knew her will always remember her warm embrace, her genuine smile, and her overwhelming grace in dealing with circumstances beyond our control. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her, and there are many, but mostly by her two boys. John and Mark, whose lives will never be the same without her, are the men they are today because of her. A memorial service and CELEBRATION will be held in her honor at Providence Road Church of Christ, 4900 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226 on October 7 at 3:00pm. Visitation will follow immediately after the service. In lieu of flowers, Kristi asked that donations be made either to Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Southminster, 8919 Park Rd, suite 1000, Charlotte NC 28210 or to The Humane Society of Charlotte, Inc., 2700 Toomey Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203. Celebration of Life Saturday, October 7, 2017 3:00 PM Providence Road Church of Christ 4900 Providences Road Charlotte NC 28226 United States 704-364-0748