Several communities that have been uplifted by Pink Hightower’s leadership are now mourning the loss of the veteran educator who was “all about the children” and “all about education.”
Hightower – who’s latest role has been serving as secondary school (grades 7-12) administrator and principal at Florida A&M University Developmental Research School – died unexpectedly on May 14 in Tallahassee at the age of 79.
Although he was widely known for his various roles in the education field over the years, his wife Pam Hightower says he was so much more.
“He was my best friend, a great husband and a great father,” Pam told the Tallahassee Democrat during a May 19 phone call. “He was the glue that held us together, and he was the center of our world. He was more than just a principal who loved his students – he loved his family first, and he loved God.”
She says when she thinks of Pink, all she can see is a big smile on his face. “That’s what he wore all the time,” she said. “You could never tell whether he was sad or upset because he always had a smile on his face – even up until the end.”
A Jefferson County native and three-time FAMU alumnus, Pink Hightower graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in physical education as well as both his master’s and doctoral degrees in educational leadership. He was also a U.S. Army veteran, and he served as deacon of Bethpage Missionary Baptist Church in Jefferson County.
Prior to his collegiate journey, he attended the former all-Black Howard Academy High School in Monticello – which he graduated from in 1963 – and has also taught at the historic public school, which is where his career of over 50 years in education began. He was also a baseball pitcher there and would later become a high school baseball coach.
Jefferson County native Al Hall – who owns Tillman Funeral Home, the company assisting the Hightower family – has known the veteran educator for most of his life, including their time together in high school.
“His mere presence generated respect — he didn’t have to demand it,” Hall told the Democrat. “He was a friend to all, and he could relate with ease to people from all walks of life, all ages and all cultures. He was adamant about education, he wanted everyone to succeed, and he believed education was the path to success.”
‘He was very much admired’
Hightower was the oldest son of eight children in his family. His mother Gussie Lee Hightower is still alive and is 100 years old, Pam said.
After serving as principal of Howard Academy, Hightower went on to be a physical education teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, an assistant principal at Jefferson High School and principal of Howard Middle School.
He also served as principal of Rickards High School before retiring and becoming an adjunct professor at FAMU’s College of Education. Following the university role, he served the Gadsden County School District in positions including human resources director, deputy superintendent and interim superintendent before joining FAMU DRS in his most recent role.
“He was always trying to work in those counties where he thought he could have the greatest amount of influence and impact,” Hall said.
His son Michael Hightower – who currently runs Leon County Schools’ Families in Transition program – was a student at Jefferson High School while Pink Hightower was assistant principal. Michael said his friends would always tell him they could talk to his dad about anything.
“Sometimes I would think ‘Why does everybody else get to share my dad,’ but now looking back on it, I understand why they did that,” Michael told the Democrat. “He was that father figure for a lot of people.
“Ever since I was a kid, my dad has always been my hero. He has always been the person I looked up to and went to for guidance.”
In Leon County, Hightower started serving as FAMU DRS’s secondary school administrator and principal in 2018. Having worked closely with him over the past seven years, FAMU DRS Superintendent Micheal Johnson says he was “one of the kindest people that one could ever encounter.”
“I don’t think that I’ve ever heard him say a mean or malicious thing about anyone,” Johnson told the Democrat. “He was just a really good, kind man that really loved the process of education and the outcomes that education could bring for students.”
As a family friend of the HighTower’s who knew them for years, Jefferson County native Clint Byrd witnessed how education has been a passion of Hightower throughout his life.
“He enjoyed education, he had a passion for young people, and he was very much admired for his contributions to the community,” Byrd said. “Everybody in the communities where they came from knew him.”
In a May 14 statement, FAMU President Marva Johnson described him as an “educator of deep conviction who guided and uplifted the students in his care and strengthened the school community he loved.”
Arrangements include a viewing and visitation that will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 22 at Bethel AME Church located at 501 W. Orange Ave. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. May 23 at the Old West Enrichment Center, 2344 Lake Bradford Road.
Tarah Jean is the higher education reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, a member of the USA TODAY Network – Florida. She can be reached at tjean@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: ‘Friend to all’: Educator Pink Hightower is remembered by community
Reporting by Tarah Jean, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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