Ethel Dameron Manard

Ethel “Shingo” Dameron Manard passed away on March 22, 2026 in Covington, LA at the age of 106. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John Poston Manard; her parents, Ethel Claiborne Dameron and Charles Irving Dameron; two brothers, Charles Haywood Dameron and Claiborne Dameron; and her sister, Dorothy Dameron Blair Sutz. She is survived by her three children, Courtney Manard Kane (H. Scott Kane, III), Barbara Bolling Manard and John Poston Manard, Jr. (Mamsie Manard), four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Manard was born in Natchez, MS and grew up on Sandbar Plantation in West Baton Rouge Parish. She attended Newcomb College, where she was affiliated with Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Active in school, community and preservation endeavors, she served as President of the Junior League of New Orleans, The Christian Woman’s Exchange, and the Louise S. McGehee School Parent Teacher Association. She was Chairman, Women’s division of the United Fund for the Greater New Orleans Area, Registrar for the National Society of the Colonial Dames in the State of Louisiana, represented Louisiana on the Board of Advisors for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, on the founding Board of Crippled Children's Hospital (now Manning Family Children’s) in 1955 during the polio epidemic, and was one of the founding members of the Preservation Resource Center in New Orleans.

She was co-founder and Chairman of the Garden Library of the New Orleans Town Gardeners, and the Southeastern Architectural Archive, Tulane University Library. She served as Research Chairman for the New Orleans Town Gardeners as Parkway Partners for the Beautification Project of Jackson Square. Mrs. Manard was Chairman of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for the preservation and renovation of Lafayette Cemetery #1 in the Garden District. She was restoration chairman for the Hermann-Grima Historic House in the Vieux Carré and chaired the committee for replanting the parterre gardens in the courtyard. She was co-founder of the Garden Library of the New Orleans Botanical Garden Advisory Board of City Park. She served as Director of Orleans Tours and was treasurer of the Christwood Resident Council.

Mrs. Manard served on the Board Advisory Committee of Shadows-on-the-Teche, Board of Directors of the Southern Garden History Society, Parish Council of Trinity Episcopal School, the Board of Directors of the Law League of Louisiana, the Board of Friends of the Tulane Library, and the Board of the Newman School Parents League.

Mrs. Manard edited several publications including Go Magazine-The Authentic Guide to New Orleans; Women Who Cared-The 100 Years of the Christian Woman’s Exchange; A History of the Order of St. Lazarus in the United States of America; A New Orleans Courtyard 1830-1860 – The Hermann-Grima House; and A History of the John A. Lohman Fund, Christwood Retirement Community.

Mrs. Manard received the Terry-Parkerson Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Garden District, the first Grace King Award by Save Our Cemeteries and the Garden Club of America Merit Award, all for saving Lafayette Cemetery #1. She received the Sustainer Award of the Junior League of New Orleans. She received numerous accolades, awards and certificates from The Orleans Club, the Christian Woman’s Exchange, and the Louisiana Association of Museums in recognition of her inspiration, leadership, distinctive service to her community, and efforts in support of the research, restoration and preservation of the Hermann-Grima House. In addition, she was presented with a Merit Award from the Garden Club of America for establishing the garden library of the New Orleans Town Gardeners.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend services at Christ Episcopal Church, 129 N. New Hampshire Street, Covington, LA on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., private interment to follow. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Christ Episcopal Church, Covington LA, the Hermann-Grima Historic House, Community Sailing New Orleans, or the Preservation Resource Center.