Dr. James H. Manning

Our loss is heaven’s gain. On August 3, 2015, Dr. James Manning went to be with the Lord. His sonorous tenor voice, which blessed legions over his lifetime, is silenced to us but has joined a heavenly choir of such majesty that we can only imagine. For our unshakeable confidence in this, we give God praise. Dr. Manning was a long-time distinguished surgeon of Kennestone Hospital, serving the medical community and thousands of patients for 38 years. Co-workers and patients alike recall the constant, unfailing joy and compassion he brought to everything he undertook, and to every patient he served, in addition to the great skill required by his profession. Hospital staff tell that in the most trying circumstances, Dr. Manning would frequently sing as he worked – most times enthusiastically, other times quietly, almost reverently. He was an ardent student of the Bible, loved God, and would spontaneously, unabashedly quote Scripture if he was moved to do so. James Hunt Manning was born on October 20, 1922, in Alpharetta, Georgia. His parents were very active in Alpharetta’s early years. His father, Benjamin F. Manning, owned a large mercantile store on Main Street. His mother, Lura Poole Manning, was the impetus for the founding of Milton High School. James, with his three sisters and two brothers, grew up in Alpharetta and graduated from the high school his mother labored to establish. James attended Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee for two years before transferring to Emory University. At Emory he completed his undergraduate studies and continued into the University’s Medical School, graduating in May, 1946. As a newly graduated M.D., Dr. Manning enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Bremerton, Washington for training. From there he was assigned to the flagship USS Estes which sailed to the bay of Tsingtao, China where he began a three year tour of duty. He was the sole medical doctor attending the crew of more than 600 officers and enlisted men. Following his interval of distinguished naval service, Dr. Manning returned home to Georgia and began the most memorable chapter of his long, productive life. He completed a year in Pathology at Grady Hospital in Atlanta. He married Pellie Jones in 1951. The couple moved to Boston, Massachusetts to enable Dr. Manning to complete his residency in surgery at the Boston Lying-In-Hospital, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, and the Veterans Hospital. But Georgia was always on their minds, and in 1955 Dr. and Mrs. Manning returned to the Atlanta area, establishing residency in Alpharetta and opening his private practice in Marietta. He joined the Cobb County Medical Society and began his long term relationship with Kennestone Hospital, serving on Kennestone’s Hospital Authority for 27 years. Pellie remembers fondly his first office – a little white duplex on Roswell Street, located behind the Greyhound Bus Station, two blocks from Marietta Square, which he shared with Dr. Fred Schmidt. It was the beginning of deep roots in Marietta, Kennestone Hospital, Cobb County, and many friends too numerous to name. In the course of their 64 years together Dr. Jim and Pellie built a home on Kennesaw Avenue and raised three children. His wife and his children, Scott, Sally, and Ben, were the loves of his life. He was a man of much passion, which was visible to all who knew him in the love he lavished on his family, the care for his patients, the devotion to his church, and his relentless pursuit of his second greatest love – music. An accomplished vocalist and soloist, Dr. Manning sang in more than 45 churches in Cobb County. He served as president of the Marietta Youth Choir for many years. He was a collegiate member of the Emory Choir and later, the Phoenix Opera Company. For numerous years he studied and sang with the Lillian Bennett Singers, and the Thursday Morning Metro Music Club. Dr. Manning is survived by his wife, Pellie; two sons, Scott, Ben (and daughter-in-law Pamela); son-in-law James Lowry; Jane Manning; seven grandchildren, Josie Manning (Shawn), Jacob Issac Lowry (Sarah), Ali Lowry Gilberts (Drew), Ben Manning, Macy Manning, Will Manning, and Marielle Manning; and his two Schnauzers that he loved dearly, Brit and Max; "and many nieces and nephews.") He is predeceased by his beautiful daughter, Sally Manning Lowry, and his childhood Alpharetta family. The family will receive visitors at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home on Church Street in downtown Marietta on Thursday the 6th between 5-7 p.m. A celebration of his life will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Whitlock Avenue on Friday, August 7th at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests donation(s) be given to the First United Methodist Church. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770-428-1511

Dr. James H. Manning

October 20, 1922 - August 3, 2015