CLEVELAND, Ohio- Funeral services for Democratic political strategist Arnold Pinkney, a former Cleveland school board president and Cleveland mayoral candidate who was the campaign manager for the Rev Jesse Jackson's campaign for president, and who help make local Cleveland politicians and also spearheaded successful schools levy campaigns, are Saturday, January 18 at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, 8712 Quincy Ave. Family visitation is at 10:00 am with funeral services to begin at 11:00 am.

Pinkney, 84, died Monday afternoon after a battle with cancer.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, whom Pinkney supported, said in a press release to Cleveland Urban News.Com that Pinkney was a  Civil Rights warrior and  a friend and confidant.

"He was a champion for equality and an advocate for Cleveland's children," said Jackson. "He was a friend and confidant, and he will be missed."

Among the dignitaries expected to attend are Mayor Jackson, Retired Congressman Louis Stokes, Former NAACP Executive Director and Businessman Bill Pickard, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, Cleveland Chapter Southern Christian Leadership Conference Executive Director the Rev. Dr. E. Theophilus Caviness, also the first vice president of the Cleveland NAACP, and Cleveland NAACP President the Rev. Hilton Smith. Other notables slated to attend include Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Call and Post Associate Publisher and Executive Editor Connie Harper,  former Cleveland NAACP President George L. Forbes,  state Representatives John Barnes Jr. (D-12), Bill Patmon (D-10) and Armond Budish (D-9), and state Sen. Shirley Smith (D-22).

International Boxing Promoter Don King, publisher of the Call and Post Newspaper, is not expected and neither the Rev Jesse Jackson nor the Rev Al Sharpton has confirmed, and it is unlikely that they will attend, sources said late yesterday.