The City of Sumter and Love Sumter are proud to unveil the 2025 Sumter Landmark Series Christmas Ornament, celebrating Willie “Bill” Pinkney Park—a tribute to one of Sumter’s most inspiring public spaces and a cornerstone of the city’s growing arts district.
In 2025, the family of Bill Pinkney (1925–2007) partnered with the City of Sumter to relocate the park from Dalzell to its new home downtown at the corner of Manning Avenue and Davis Street. The park’s bronze bust and installations honor Pinkney’s remarkable life as a World War II Bronze Star veteran, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and two-time recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor.
Best known as a founding voice of The Original Drifters, Pinkney performed timeless hits like “Money Honey” and “White Christmas.” Today, his legacy lives on as South Sumter continues to flourish as a creative hub—home to the Festival on the Avenue, Creative Canvas murals, South Sumter Art Park, and the upcoming reopening of the Manning Avenue Free Studio.
The Sumter Landmark Series captures a piece of the community’s story each year by highlighting public spaces that bring people together and reflect the city’s shared pride and progress.
The 2025 Landmark Ornament is now available at the Sumter Visitor Center/Gift Shop, located at Swan Lake Iris Gardens.
For more information, call the Visitors Center at (803) 436-2640 or visit LoveSumter.com.