James (Jimmy) Curtis Manning, III

James (Jimmy) Curtis Manning III, 74, of Valdosta, Ga. passed away Friday, December 13, 2024, at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born on June 11, 1949, in Brunswick, Ga., to the late J.C. Manning, Jr. and Jacque Parker Manning.

Jimmy, a 1967 graduate of Glynn Academy, received a BS in marketing from Valdosta State College where he was a member of Delta Chi fraternity. He became a real estate agent and is remembered by many for the courses he taught in this field. He was later a marketing instructor at Valdosta Vocational School. During that time, he obtained a master’s in vocational education from VSC and an ED specialist from UGA. Jimmy’s passion for teaching led to a 36 year career during which he was the DECA Advisor and was a 2001 finalist for the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction in Georgia. 

Jimmy was an active member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, serving on the Building Committee and participating in the Monday morning Men’s Bible Study. He enjoyed spending time with friends and family. He especially enjoyed entertaining his two grandsons to whom he was known as “Champs”. Retirement allowed him the opportunity to swap stories and “solve world problems” with his coffee club companions!

Surviving are his wife of 27 years, Mary Young Manning; son, Lee (Melissa) Boatenreiter; grandsons Carter and Converse Boatenreiter; sisters-in- law Kathryn (Davis) Williamson and Emily Smotherman; brothers-in-law Fred (Teresa) Smotherman and John (Lang) Smotherman; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Tommy Manning. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (3700 Val Del Road) with Reverend Scott Horne officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. 

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Redeemer Presbyterian Building Fund (3338 L PMB 230, Valdosta, Ga. 31605) or Lowndes County Historical Society (P. O. Box 56 Valdosta, Ga. 31603).

Online condolences may be conveyed at www.mclanecares.com

Carson McLane Funeral Home