Roy D. Manning

One of the last remaining World War II B-26 bomber pilots passed away on July 12, 2012. Roy Davis Manning, 92, has left this earth and has joined his wife of 64 years, Beulah Rivers Manning, in heaven. Roy joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 and rose to the rank of II Lieutenant. Through grueling and rapid training he became a Martin B-26 Marauder pilot and was chosen to be a B-26 flight instructor. He trained many pilots who helped defeat the Axis powers. Attacking with precision and high speed, the B-26 struck a multitude of targets prior to and in support of the D day invasion of Normandy. As bases in France became available, B-26 units crossed the Channel and continued to strike at the Germans and were instrumental in the defeat of Nazi Germany. Roy’s interest in flight continued after returning from World War II, as he later served as the volunteer head of the Mississippi Civil Air Patrol. Mr. Manning was a long-time resident of Jackson. He was born to James Arnold Manning and Ruby Davis Manning on October 27, 1919 in Jackson. He graduated from Central High School in 1939. Mr. Manning worked for many years with the Vestal and Vernon Insurance Agency. He also served as Executive Director of Willowood Developmental Center and International Trade Director of the MS Department of Agriculture. Beulah and Roy Manning married on June 29, 1941 at Galloway Methodist Church where they were active for many years and were members of the Ben Fatheree class. Shortly after Beulah Manning’s death on March 3, 2004, Mr. Manning became a member of Crossgates Baptist Church where he belonged to the Frank Mullins class. Mr. Manning was a loving husband and father and a devoted Pony League baseball and Galloway Church softball coach. He enjoyed attending the Bowden Bible Study for many years with Mrs. Manning. His recent interests included a love of growing pine trees on his Pocahontas farm, and he was named the Hinds County Forester of the Year in 2011. Mr. Manning was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, James A. Manning, Jr, his sister, Marjorie M. Godman, and his loving wife, Beulah Manning. Survivors are son, Dr. R. Davis Manning, Jr. and his wife DeAnn of Jackson; son, James H. Manning and his wife Dee of Madison, MS; grandsons, Robby Waldrup of Los Angeles, CA, and John Waldrup of Vaughn, MS; and granddaughter, Collette Manning of Chicago, Il. The family will receive visitors 9:30 AM -11:30 AM on Monday, July 16, 2012 at Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon. Funeral Services will immediately follow the visitation at Crossgates Baptist Church at 11:30 AM. For those desiring, memorials can be made to The Gideons International, PO Box 140800,Nashville, TN 37214 or Crossgates Baptist Church Missions Fund, 8 Crosswoods Road Brandon, MS 39042. Online guestbook www.wrightferguson.com