James Alfred Manning

The beloved Colonel Jimmy passed away on March 7, 2025 after a brief illness even though he had been afflicted with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) for more than twenty years. Jimmy, the sole remaining child of the late Henry T. and Effie R. Manning of Emporia, VA, Orange and Vaux Hall, NJ, was born in Vaux Hall and grew up in Orange. Upon graduating from Orange High School in 1949, he matriculated to West Virginia State University (College) In Institute, WV, where he was a premed major with minors in history and ROTC. He excelled in the Army ROTC program, and was honored as a Distinguished Military Student and Graduate in May 1953.

Commissioned as a Regular Army Second Lieutenant in 1953, he served on active duty beginning at Fort Sill, OK followed by an overseas assignment in Germany with the Honest John Heavy Rocket (762mm) Artillery units deployed there in late 1954. He would be transferred into the 30th Field Artillery Battalion which was destined to return to Fort Lewis, WA in 1957. On arrival in this beautiful state, he made a life- changing decision to resign his Regular Army commission and revert to the Army Reserves and pursue education as a life goal. He retired from the United States Army Reserves at The Presidio of San Francisco as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics in 1985 following a military career of 32 plus years.

During his preparatory credentialing period and the acquisition of his Master’s degree at Seattle University, he was employed by The Boeing Airplane Company in the Seattle area. Jimmy joined the Seattle Public School District in 1961 and taught science at the Asa Mercer Junior High School through 1965 before joining the International Business Corporation (IBM) as an education marketing representative. His tenure at IBM was curtailed during the economic downturn in Seattle in the 1970s at which time he gained employment with the U.S. Government’s Department of Education, Region X.

Good fortune would enable him to leave U.S. Government service and join the Washington State Government as the Director of Veterans and Military Education in the Higher Education Coordinating Board from which he retired in 1997 after twenty years of service to veterans and military service persons pursuing higher education within the State of Washington.

On his personal side, Jimmy was married to his first wife, the late Patricia Ray Manning to whom was born their daughter Michele Mercedes and later their son James Arthur. Patricia was the mother of Morgan and the late Gideon Powell and Deborah Jenkins prior to their marriage. Jimmy later married Jeanne Walker Manning, the mother of William “Bill”, Gretchen, Christopher, Eric and Heidi Goodrich.

He and his wife Jeanne sponsored the family of the late Richard Scott McConnell from Vietnam in 1982, becoming guardian ad litem and the American “father and mother” figures for Sat Nguyen, Thu McConnell, and the late Hai McConnell.

Jimmy loved to share his talent as both a Bar-B-Cue chef and Fried Chicken and Fish specialist with his family and friends who spent many joyous moments both at his first home in the Lake City area of Seattle and later at their home in Lakewood.

Jimmy was a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity having been inducted into Tau Chapter December 12, 1950; and was an active member of Seattle Alumni Chapter and former Polemarch. He served on the Boards of “Community Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted” (CSPBS) in Seattle for many years also the “Northwest Kidney Center” (NKC) of which he was also a successful Home Hemodialysis patient for more than ten years. He also served on the Board of Directors for “Communities in Schools-Lakewood” (CISL) while residing in Lakewood.

Colonel Jimmy also served as the Chapter President and Historian of the Greater Puget Sound Chapter of the 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association for more than ten years and was a life member of the national organization. He was a Life Member of both The Reserve Officers of America (ROA) and the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) and a member of the Mount Rainier Chapter of the latter organization.

He was also a Life Member of The West Virginia State University Alumni Association and The Union of Black Episcopalians. He held several elected offices within the two organizations during his lifetime.

During his retirement years, Jimmy served as a guest (substitute) teacher in the Shoreline, Bellevue and Clover Park School Districts sharing his educational knowledge and life experiences with youth. Jim also was a financial supporter of The Boys & Girls Club of Lakewood and a contributor to The Lakewood Historical Society.

He will be sorely missed by all who revered his friendship over the years.

He was predeceased by his wife Jeanne; first wife Pat Manning; brothers Henry Robinson and George Russell; sister Juanita Sydnor, his stepson Gideon Powell and foster-son Hai Nguyen.

He leaves to mourn his passing, daughter Michele (Katherine), son James Arthur, step-sons Morgan (Jennifer), step-daughter Deborah, foster-son Sat (Nancy), foster-daughter Thu, step-sons William (Nee), Christopher (Adele), Eric (Jolene), and step-daughters Gretchen (Tim) and Heidi, grandchildren Kelle, Amber, Matthew (Jennifer) and Aaron (Heidi), Tasha, Tavis, and Heidi Jeanne; nephews Ralph, William and Russell, nieces Stephanie and Linda and many great-grandchildren, cousins and friends located throughout the entire world.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 2:30 PM at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 345 S 312th Street, Federal Way, WA. Join us virtually through the following link to the livestreamed service

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84340125935?pwd=V97wMWXiJG4yK7WjboYLIVQ0OEsaA5.1

Meeting ID: 843 4012 5935

Passcode: 606945

In lieu of flowers, please offer your remembrances to the Northwest Kidney Center online at https://www.nwkidney.org/how-to-help/donate-online/ or by calling 206-292-5351. Inurnment ceremonies will be held at a later date.