James "Jim" Baker Manson

Jim graduated from Mary M. Bethune High School in 1962. He attended St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina and Bluefield State College in West Virginia where he was a member of the Alph Phi Alpha Fraternity and the NAACP. He later completed a BS degree in Liberal Studies at National University in California. He was an active, peaceful civil rights demonstrator during the 1960's, following the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jim joined the U.S. Air Force in July 1966 and was trained as a Still Photographer. This assignment was enjoyed throughout his 25yrs of military service. His many tours of duty included Thailand, England, Portugal, Norway, Germany and several bases throughout the United States. Following his Air Force career, he was selected as an AFJROTC instructor at Mira Mesa High School, San Diego, CA. Over a 22 year career in the San Diego Unified School District, he assisted in training 7,000 high school students in basic life skills, patriotism, ethics, job interviews, drill and ceremonies, dress and personal appearance, public speaking, physical fitness, drug and alcohol abuse, as well as discussions on gangs and suicide. Jim

was selected Teacher of the Year by his peers in 2015 and was recognized as being in the top 10% of AFJROTC instructors in the United States by Maxwell AFB, Alabama.

Jim retired from the San Diego Unified School District in 2015. He stayed active in the community providing transportation for seniors through a program called Rides and Smiles, sponsored by Jewish

Family Services. He worked at the Del Mar Racetrack providing security for high stake horses. He and his wife, Barbara, were active bingo players at the Poway Senior Center in Poway, CA and the ED Brown Senior Center in Rancho Bernardo, CA where he was a floor manager. He also enjoyed the camaraderie with fellow veterans in a group called Bagels and Baloney and with the American Legion Post 275 in La Jolla, CA. He and his wife loved to travel on both ocean and river cruises in the United States, the Caribbean and Europe; as well as attending live theater, movies, road trips and exploring new restaurants. In later years his comfort dog, Benji, accompanied him nearly everywhere he went.

Upon moving to North Carolina in 2021, Jim and Barbara joined the Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter in Belmont. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara, of 24 years and his four children,

Daren Manson and wife Alisha of Texas, Jocelyn Manson, and lan Manson of California, step- daughter Cherilyn DiMond of New Mexico and four grandchildren. His wife Barbara's family has also been a huge part of his extended family. Daughter-in-law, Coleen Masluk and husband, Cody, along with their three children. He is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Jane Manson.

A visitation will be held for Jim on Friday, May 8, 2026 from 10:00 am - 10:45 am at Carothers Funeral Home at Gaston Memorial Park, 2205 Williamsburg Dr, Gastonia, NC 28054. Following the visitation, a celebration of life service will take place at the same location at 11:00 am. Burial will immediately follow all services at Gaston Memorial Park Cemetery behind the Funeral Home.

For those wishing to make a memorial contribution, donations may be made to ZERO Prostate Cancer at https://zerocancer.org/?form=DONATE