Remembering Jodi Black



COO. Leader. Friend. "Crit Fail Queen." Colleague. Mentor. Guardian Angel.


Everyone at Pinnacle joins the Black and Thies families in mourning the loss of our dear Jodi. Clint, Trinity, and Bethany, we hold you in our hearts. 

A beloved member of the Pinnacle family, Jodi Black's impact on our company, our community, and our lives can not be over-stated. Her warmth, wisdom, and irrepressible spirit touched everyone she met and her legacy will shape us for years to come.

A Message from Shane:

Hi Friends,

Many of you have already seen the outpouring of love and support for Clint and Jodi Black. Thank you. It means more than words can say. We are truly heartbroken. 

Jodi was a critical and irreplaceable part of our team. Her passing is a devastating loss for all who knew her. But her legacy is also deeply inspirational. She brought nothing but light into the world, and it's on us now to carry it forward. I know I'm a much better person for having met her. I will strive to remember that and keep her spark alive for the remainder of my days.

We are moving forward with our upcoming projects, including East Texas University, with a banner directing people here so they can support Clint and his daughters. This is the best way we know to honor Jodi: by helping the family she loved so dearly.

Christopher Landauer has created a beautiful tribute video featuring Jodi in her own words. We invite you to watch, remember, and celebrate her life.

All the best, friends,
Shane Lacy Hensley



Jodi's Voice

The video, shared at the top of the page, captured Jodi singing an Appalachian Hymn to celebrate our Holler campaign. We will remember Jodi for her voice, her presence, and the spirit she shared with all of us. She was an unblemished beacon of light, love, and goodness.


She is singing a selection from I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger, and her words echo her love of choral singing as a soprano, her Appalachian roots, her faith, and her fearless journey through life toward the beyond.

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I'm travellin' through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness, toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go

I'm going there to see my Father
I'm going there, no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
But golden fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed shall ever sleep

I'm going home to see my Mother
And all my loved ones who've gone on
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

I am a poor wayfarin' stranger
I'm travellin' through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness, toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go


There is no sickness, toil, or danger, in that bright world to which she goes.

Godspeed, Jodi. We are all blessed to have known you.



Support Clint & Family:

Jodi’s journey with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Interstitial Lung Disease was sudden, aggressive, and heartbreaking. As Clint shared, the medical and life changes came faster than anyone could have prepared for.

At the heart of it all was a simple, powerful request from Jodi herself:

“Ask for help.”

We invite you to support Clint and his daughters during this incredibly difficult time.


If you’re unable to contribute, sharing the page is just as meaningful.

About Jodi

Jodi served Pinnacle in many roles over the years, including Licensing Director, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Marketing, Director of Operations, and Chief Editor. She was a steady hand, a sharp mind, and the connective tissue that held so much of our work, and our people, together.

She was also:

  • A founder of Carolina Game Tables, now Legacy Game Tables
  • A member of the Game Manufacturers Association Board of Directors
  • The President of Beautiful Brains Books and Games
  • A leader in tabletop gaming, nonprofit work, and manufacturing
  • A soprano in the Hickory Choral Society

Jodi brought a rare combination of practical intelligence, creative problem-solving, and genuine warmth to everything she did.

Jodi was affectionately known as the "Crit Fail Queen." Where others saw failure, she saw story. Jodi delighted in those unexpected twists of fate, and transmuted misfortune into something unforgettable. If you have a favorite crit fail story or moment that reminds you of Jodi, we invite you to share it with us!

Jodi was our "Den Mother." She took care of people. She made things work. She kept us grounded when things got chaotic. And in this industry, that's saying something! She led with empathy, clarity, humor, and just the right amount of "get it done." There is no replacing her. Only honoring her.

Jodi's legacy lives on in every product she helped bring to life, every creator she supported; every problem she solved behind the scenes; every friend and fan she met at the hundreds of conventions she attended; and every person she encouraged, mentored, or simply made feel welcome. Most importantly, she reminded us that even when things go wrong, they can still lead to something meaningful.

You Can Honor Her Memory

If Jodi impacted your life, your work, your time in this community, we encourage you to:


She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come… Her children arise and call her blessed.

Honor her for all that her hands have done and let her works bring her praise.

Share your own photos of Jodi for inclusion in our memorial gallery: