Carla Alyce Brinkley

Carla Alyce Brinkley, 71, passed away April 30, 2026, in Walla Walla, Washington, the community she called home for more than 50 years.

Born August 15, 1954, in Washington, D.C., Carla spent much of her youth in Sacramento and the Berkeley Bay Area. After graduating from Presentation High School in Berkeley, she came to Walla Walla in 1972 on a Congressional Scholarship to attend Whitman College. She began in biology before following her passion for theater and drama, a love she carried into the Little Theatre of Walla Walla and throughout her life.

Standing just 4 feet 5 inches tall, Carla delighted in reminding people that “dynamite comes in small packages.” Her quick wit, contagious laugh, wisdom, and gift for conversation made people feel seen, heard, valued, and welcomed.

Fifteen years before her passing, Carla lost her eyesight. She refused to let blindness define the life that remained before her, saying it taught her to “SEE” the world differently. She credited the blind community with teaching her that loss of sight did not mean a loss of living. Carla believed people are always “in the process of becoming” and encouraged others to “turn stumbling stones into building blocks.”

For decades, Carla was part of the civic and community life of Walla Walla. She volunteered, served in leadership roles, supported grassroots efforts, and participated in theater, advocacy, and community organizations, including the Little Theatre of Walla Walla, Council for the Blind, BMAC, and Brookdale Resident Council, where she served as president. The titles varied; the purpose did not: helping people.

Carla believed every person deserved dignity, respect, and a voice. Music, laughter, theater, meaningful conversation, family, and service brought her joy. She valued human connection deeply and hoped technology would never replace genuine relationships.

A devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Carla took immense pride in the generations that followed her. She is survived by her children, Bronchet Brinkley of Walla Walla, Tiffany Brinkley of Seattle, and Jevon Brinkley (Ashley Reece) of Walla Walla; sister Cathleen Brinkley of New Carrollton, Maryland; brother D. Eric Davis of Sacramento, California; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one great-grandchild on the way; and numerous extended family members, friends, and loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gwendolyn E.H. Brinkley and William M. Brinkley.

In one of her final published interviews, Carla was asked what message she wished to leave with the world. Her answer captured the spirit with which she met both hardship and joy:

“Try to keep a smile in the tummy.”

For more than half a century in Walla Walla, Carla built a life whose history is written not only in organizations, milestones, and family generations, but in the people she encouraged, welcomed, challenged, and loved.

A memorial/birthday celebration will be held on August 14, 2026. Please email your RSVP to tcbrinkley@gmail.com with subject line: Brinkley Memorial.