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Robert Ronald “Ron” Manning, Sr.
(February 9, 1947 – August 21, 2022)
Robert Ronald “Ron” Manning, Sr., 75 of Magee, Mississippi passed away from his earthly home to his heavenly home on Sunday, August 21, 2022, at his home in Magee, Mississippi. He was born Sunday, February 9, 1947, in Jackson, Mississippi.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 25, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Magee at 222 1st Street, Magee, Mississippi.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 25, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church. The burial will follow at Jones Cemetery, 11296 MS Hwy 35, Mize, Mississippi. Dr. Jim Taylor and Brother Lance Word will officiate. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Magee is in charge of arrangements. 601-849-5031
When his children were young, Ron was the “Chevy Chase” of the family’s annual vacations! His child-like excitement was infectious, and he put endless miles on his station wagon as he took his family through the Smoky and Ozark Mountains or to Disney World.
Ron was a coach. He helped coach his son’s little league basketball, baseball and football teams. He also coached his daughter’s softball team for many years.
His first year to coach softball, he and his best friend adopted the “Bad News Bears,” called the Coasties. The players were 9–12-year-old girls that had come in last place year after year. He realized quickly they knew no fundamentals of the game. Being an educator, he took the softball rule book information, created a workbook for each player and held a weekend workshop for his Coasties every Saturday until they knew the game backwards and forwards. Within a few years, the Coasties were the # 1 team in the League! He went on to Coach the Raiders for years and many summer tournament teams.
An incredible cheerleader, he was so much fun and could light up any room. When you accomplished something, you just wanted to rush and tell him because he would always “talk you up” and make you feel special. He was so complimentary of everyone he met. He genuinely cared for and liked everyone.
He loved any and all animals and creatures (and insects that most of us would end with a shoe)! He was such a gentle soul that saved and adopted so many animals. One of them, “Lucky,” had just been hit by a car and he rushed her to a vet. He also picked up an old, abandoned hound dog at a Texaco, named him “Tex” and showed him love for his remaining years. He had so many pets and his love for them was endless. However, this extreme love could get risky. One day, he stopped his vehicle on a busy highway, put it in park and slowly walked over to the turtle that had started crossing the highway. Cars were backed up a mile long as he gently walked the turtle across the highway and found the perfect spot for it, far enough from the highway so it wouldn’t get hurt. The honks and attitudes of the drivers piled up on the highway didn’t bother him much. He was a rebel!
Ron was a history teacher in his very early years, but his career in the school system led him to be the “Map and Globe” man. He represented both Cram and Rand McNally throughout the years, but he wasn’t just a salesman, he was an educator. He wrote and published “Have a World of Fun with Maps and Globes,” and traveled to schools across multiple states holding workshops to demonstrate how to use all of the different models that changed through the years. With each school he entered, he’d walk in to introduce himself, bouncing his globe like a basketball (to show how durable they were). He often shared the story (with great animation as with all of his stories) of walking into the school, bouncing his globe, ready for “show time!” and BAM! His durable globe didn’t survive the “bounce” and lay cracked in the floor for introductions. He looked up and everyone was staring at him with a look of “why did you do that?!”
Ron spent the better part of the last two decades living in and loving Mize, MS. He’d tell you without hesitation “this is my home!” He loved reporting for the Smith County Reformer Reformer Newspaper and the highlight of that position was the many ball games he covered across Smith County.
He loved Cracker Barrel, Elvis, rocking chairs and Christmas (“Where’s my present?!”). He loved his children. He loved Little Debbie Snack Cakes, singing, dancing and having a world of fun. We will miss him dearly!
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Everett Manning; mother, Jenell Pickle Manning; and sister, Barbara Manning Martin.
Survivors include his wife, Claire Petreman Manning of Magee, MS; one son, Ronnie Manning, Jr. (Tracy) of Long Beach, MS; one daughter, Candice Manning Hagwood of Madison, MS; four grandchildren, Sarah Katelin Manning of Long Beach, MS, Cameron Thomas Manning of Long Beach, MS, Spencer Ryan Hagwood of Madison, MS and Carly Cleo Hagwood of Madison, MS; one brother, Don Scharf (Sheryl) of Terry, MS; one brother-in-law, Bob Martin (Jimmie) of Florence, MS; his wife’s five children, their spouses, seventeen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild; and a host of other family members and friends.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Manning, Cameron Manning, Spencer Hagwood, Rob Martin, Lance Martin, and Jack McKinley. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Martin and Don Scharf.
In lieu of flowers or other contributions, the Manning family asks that donations be made to organizations that were dear to Ron’s heart. He loved and cared for every animal he ever saw, and he would be so pleased to know that people donated to Southern Cross Animal Rescue (Laurel, MS) in his honor. Ron was also passionate about the high school sports programs in Smith County and was diligent in his reporting of them in the Smith County Reformer. Donations made to these programs would have meant so much to Ron. Below are instructions for these donations.
SCAR – Southern Cross Animal Rescue (Laurel, MS):
Make donations via PayPal (@scarofms) and indicate “Ron Manning” in the notes.
Mize Attendance Center:
Mail checks to 125 School Drive Mize, MS 39116 and indicate “Ron Manning/Sports Program” in the memo.
Raleigh High School:
Mail checks to 491 Magnolia Drive Raleigh, MS 39153 and indicate “Ron Manning/Sports Program” in the memo.
Taylorsville Attendance Center:
Mail checks to P.O. Box 8 Taylorsville, MS 39168 and indicate “Ron Manning/Sports Program” in the memo.
The Manning Family requests that those who attend the visitation or funeral dress casually and comfortably, as Ron would want.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapelmageemendenhall.com
MageeNews.com is an online news source serving Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi.
