CELEBRATING BEDFORD S LEGACY REV. DR. CLYDE W. ODEN, JR, PASTOR, BETHEL AME CHURCH, OXNARD OFFICIANT Musical Prelude Processional Congregational Hymn Prayer Musical Selection Scriptures Old Testament Reading: Psalms 37: 22-31 New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 13 Words of Comfort Musical Selection Acknowledgement of Cards and Reading of Resolutions Musical Selection Expressions of Remembrance: Dignitaries Community/Friends Family Reading of Bedford s Legacy Musical Selection Words of Remembrance Benediction Clergy and Family Blessed Assurance Rev. Von Beaty, Ministerial Associate Bethel AME Church, Oxnard Dr. Angela Timmons Rev. Lynice Pinkard Rev. Dennis Holloway, Ministerial Associate Bethel AME Church, Oxnard Rev. Lonnie McCowan, Pastor Miracle Center Church Ventura, California Men of Vision Mrs. Shirley Bumpus Kevin Goolsby Rev. Roosevelt Lindsey, Presiding Elder Los Angeles South / Las Vegas District So. Cal. Conference 5th Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church Assembly Member Jacqui Irwin California 44th Assembly District Attorney Greg Totten, Ventura County District Attorney William Ragman Johnson Crittenden K. Ward Mrs. Evelyn Newton, Niece Mrs. Daisy Cotton To be read silently Community Choir Rev. Dr. Clyde W. Oden, Jr., Pastor Bethel AME Church Oxnard, California Rev. Oden
BEDFORD S LEGACY Bedford Louis Pinkard was the middle child of five children born to Dee and Adelia Pinkard on October 9, 1930. He was born in Jacksonville, Texas and made his home in Oxnard for over 70 years. Bedford attended Ramona Elementary School; Wilson Junior High School; Oxnard High School, Ventura College; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and California State University, Northridge. He also attended Los Angeles Trade Technical College where he studied photography. Bedford Pinkard was a graduate of California State University at Northridge where he received a Bachelor s Degree in Recreation. Bedford was an employee for the City of Oxnard in the Recreation Department as a Recreational Leader before going into the United States Army. He was honorably discharged in 1955 and worked for the Recreation Department in Los Angeles. After several years in Los Angeles he returned to Oxnard and the Recreation Department where he worked for the next for 32 years. While working for the Oxnard Recreation Department, Bedford ran for the Oxnard Union High School District Board (OUHSD). When he was elected he became the first elected African American in the Tri-Counties. While a board member, he served as President, Vice President and Clerk a few times on the OUHSD Board. He served on the Oxnard Union High School District Board of Trustees for over 20 years. Bedford founded the Oxnard Youth Employment Service (OYES) to give every youth an opportunity to experience work and earning their own money. The award-winning Oxnard City Corps is an outgrowth of OYES as well as the Oxnard Summer Youth Employment Program. He also founded the La Colonia Youth Boxing Program to divert youth from drugs and gangs. The program has produced three Olympians and two world champions. It was the #1 Amateur boxing club in the United States in 2000.
County residents and founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Ventura County. The organization coordinates a parade and program each year in partnership with the City of Oxnard and local community organizations. He served on the Oxnard City Council for 12 years. Prior to his retirement from the council, the City of Oxnard named a park, Bedford Pinkard Skate Park, in his honor as a lasting recognition for his dedication and service to youth. In 2004 the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce named Bedford the Man of the Year and in 2011 he was awarded the Legacy Award by the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame Committee. He served on the Ventura County Grand Jury, CSUN Community Advisory Board and First 5 Committee of Ventura County. He also served on the California Youth Authority Citizens Advisory Committee, Ventura County Harbor Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission and was Steward Emeritus at Bethel A.M.E. Church. Bedford and his wife began the Black College Tours for local youth of all cultures in Ventura County over 30 years ago. The tours expose youth in Ventura County and neighboring counties to the rich history of HBCU s (historically black colleges and universities). Bedford was the patriarch of the family and made sure everyone was loved and included. The family loved to hear his stories and jokes. Many Christmases Bedford played Santa Claus for the little ones at family gatherings. He was affectionately known by many nicknames by the community and his family: Old Bad, Pinky, Godfather, Pumpkin Head, Uncle Bacon, Mayor, and Chief. Bedford s wisdom, history of the city and leadership in the community will be sorely missed. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, brothers and beloved daughter, Deidra. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife and love of his life for 31 years, Dr. Irene Pinkard; his sons, Derek (Diane) of Oxnard and Kevin Goolsby of Carson; Grandsons: Dee Pinkard, Conrad Hernandez, and grandson/nephew, Josh Pinkard; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, goddaughter and adopted children. We find comfort in the knowledge that one who is remembered never
PALLBEARERS ACTIVE: Derek Pinkard Kevin Goolsby Conrad Hernandez Joshua Pinkard Dee Pinkard Claude Bubba Dent Daniel Pinkard HONORARY: William Ragman Johnson Crittenden K. Ward Barry Braff Larry Bumpus Edgar West Bobby Rowe Joseph Stephens Harvey Walker Men of Bethel HYMN - BLESSED ASSURANCE VERSE 1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. VERSE 2 Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. CHORUS This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. CHORUS VERSE 3 Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. CHORUS INTERMENT Bedford will be laid to rest immediately following the Legacy Celebration at the Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, located at 2052 Howard Rd - Camarillo, CA 93012 REPAST There will be a repast at the Performing Arts Center immediately following interment. THANK YOU "The Pinkard family would like to thank you all for the generous expressions of love and caring, food, cards, phone calls, prayers, thoughts and words of encouragement. We are deeply grateful and pray that God will richly bless you for your kindness."
The measure of a life well lived is not in the wealth that one accumulates, but rather, in the service that one renders. Bedford Louis Pinkard lived a life punctuated by extraordinary service!