Melvin Ray Manning

Melvin R. Manning of Cartersville, Virginia passed away on Wednesday, September 13th at the age of 85. He was born on November 20th, 1937, in Goldsboro, North Carolina and grew up in Greenville, North Carolina. He moved to Richmond in 1956 and attended the University of Richmond for undergraduate studies and law school. While a student at the University of Richmond, he worked part time as a news photographer for WTVR-TV6 and WWBT-12 to support the pursuit of his studies. During these years, Mel also served in the United States Army Reserve, first in the Signal Corps, and then in the Staff Judge Advocate Section of the 80th Division Headquarters.

Mel earned a Juris Doctor degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law in 1964. He received the Charles T. Norman medal in law for the class of ‘64, awarded annually to the best all-around graduate. He is admitted to practice in several courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

After passing the Virginia State Bar exam, Mel became an associate and later a partner of a law firm that would eventually become McCaul, Grigsby, Pearsall, Manning & Davis. He later established Manning, Davis & Kirby, where he practiced industrial relations law until his retirement from the firm in 1995. Relocating to the Tampa Bay, Florida area, he served as executive director of the Southern Motor Carriers Labor Relations Association, a joint employer organization in the trucking industry. Mel was also a lead employer negotiator during each national Teamsters Union contract renewal that occurred during his tenure.

Throughout his life one of his most deeply loved hobbies was sailing. He was active with Yankee Point Yacht Club and enjoyed racing in regattas in and around the Chesapeake Bay for many years. Reviving his love of the water after moving to Florida, he joined the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and he earned his U.S. Coast Guard Masters License. After retiring from his executive director position, he focused on his work with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, averaging over 2,000 hours per year in volunteer activity, and held elected positions at the flotilla and division level and appointed offices at the district level. He was a member of the District 7/Atlantic East International Search and Rescue Team in 2006. He served as Division 11 Commander covering the Tampa Bay area, and finally as District Seven Captain West covering Florida’s west coast.

Mel’s other beloved hobbies during his life included snow skiing, golf, traveling and amateur radio. Mel visited all seven continents, crossing the Arctic and Antarctic circles. He was an avid Amateur Radio operator for over 40 years, holding an FCC Extra Class license. He regularly participated in American Radio Relay League field competitions, and received numerous awards over the course of the four decades he was involved with this hobby. In 2017 he returned to Virginia to be closer to his family, settling in Cartersville.

Mel is survived by his wife, Sue D. Manning, his son, R. Bradford Manning, daughter Laura M. Franke, and son John W. Manning, his daughter in-law Jennifer B. Manning, son in-law Gordon C. Franke, and grandson Spencer D. Manning, granddaughter Susanna C. Franke, and step-grandson Forrest M. Holden.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service at Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Road, Midlothian, Virginia 23113 on Friday, September 29th at 11:00AM. Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, September 28th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, and from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.