CHARLES W. MANNING
A Man of the People
Charles Wesley Manning was born April 11, 1922 to the late George and Marie Vinson Manning in Hartsville, South Carolina. Manning was born and baptized a Methodist. He was mostly like named for a founder of Methodism, Charles Wesley.
Charles received his education through the Hartsville School System. He graduated from the landmark school, Butler High School, where he would one day return and teach. After graduating from high school, he attended South Carolina State University where he received his B.A. in Psychology. He later attended New York University and obtained his Master’s in Education. He took a leave from college to serve in World War II. Upon the ending of the war, he returned to South Carolina State College to finish his degree.
In the summer of 1959, Charles Manning accepted the offer of the Dublin City Board of Education to become the principal of Oconee High School. The officer was based primarily on his record and the recommendation of his predecessor and cousin, Lucius Bacote.
Manning came to Dublin possibly expecting a wrongful and hurtful attitude against African Americans. While Dublin was by no means a perfect utopia, it was Manning and other educators like him, members of Washington Street Presbyterian Church, First A.B. Church, and St. Paul, AME Church who helped to close the gap. Following the full integration of the schools in 1970, Manning was assigned the job as Principal of Central Elementary School, when the usual protocol would have been to name his as Vice Principal of Dublin High School.
Once again, Manning landed in the right place. It was Manning’s job to be an administrator of six to twelve-year-old kids who were going through challenging situations in the decade following the integration of the schools. And once again, in typical Manning fashion, he succeeded as a mentor to his students.
It did not take long for Manning to begin his new role as a community leader. Charles was appointed to the newly created Dublin Parks and Recreation Department. During his thirty-two-year term, Manning was involved in several major projects, including the repair and improvement of the Oconee High School athletic complex and in particular, the Oconee Gym, the building of Springdale park, and the construction of Riverview Park Golf Course, where Manning his golfing buddies, Ernest Wade and Shellie Stroman, enjoyed many a day on the city course. As usual, Charles took no personal credit for the growth of the department during his term, giving the kudos the department staff, the city, and the citizens of Dublin.
Riverview Golf Course
Manning joined the St. Patrick’s Festival in 1968 as one of the committee’s first African American members. He was honored for his long and dedicated service with an award as an Honorary Leprechaun.
In 1981, Manning once again made local history as Laurens County, as the county’s first African American judge, when he was appointed by Chief Magistrate Court Judge Johnny W. Warren as a Deputy Magistrate Court Judge. Manning used his natural skills he learned as a school teacher and administrator to meet out justice in a fair way and to diffuse heated oral confrontations between parties appearing before him. Just as he done as a principal, Manning mentored troubled young people who appeared before. Judge Manning served until 2010 for total of thirty years, making him the longest serving Magistrate Court Judge and one of the longest serving deputy magistrates in the history of Georgia.
That same year, Charles Manning was named “Man of the Year” by the Black History Festival Committee in appreciation of more than two decades of public deeds.
Manning could not resist offers to serve on community boards. Manning was a founder of Laurens County’s Community Action Council in the 1960s. He served on the Heart of Georgia’s regional board representing the poor people of the district.
In educational fraternities, he served for many years as member of Pi Eta Lamda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. At his death, Brother Manning was the fraternity’s oldest serving brother in the South.
In one of Manning’s most ironic board positions, Charles Manning served several terms on the Georgia Board of Barbers, an unusual post since Charles had virtually no hair to cover his brilliant mind.
Charles greatest gift was his family, which included his wife Gloria Thomas, whom he married on July 5, 1960. The Mannings were blessed with three wonderful children; Athena Manning, Charles W. Manning, Jr., and Marisa Manning Braxton.
This Saturday, July 3, 2021 at 3:00 p.m., the Dublin City School System will honor the legacy of Charles Manning by the the high school’s library in memory. Thc City of Dublin will also re-name Wabash Street Charles W. Manning, Sr. Way in his honor. It is noteworthy that when Oconee High School was created by the Dublin City Board of Education, the board changed its long standing policy of school names. Other than Susie Dasher School, schools were named for the street which they faced. In this situation, the board named the new high school. They made a wise decision. Who can imagine a team or band being called the Wabash Street Trojans?
A mentor and friend to his students, Manning would not tolerate any foolishness or failure to apply themselves in their educational efforts. However, Manning would do anything within is power to overcome the failures of his students. His fifty years of community service is unparalleled in our city. It is only fitting and proper for the city and the school board to honor the late Charles W. Manning, a man of the all of the people.
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