James Manuel Snipes

James Manuel Snipes, 67, of Valdosta passed away on Friday, November 6, 2020 at his home. He was born in Brooksville, Florida on August 8, 1953. He was a son of the late Frank Snipes and the late Gladys Champion and had lived in Valdosta for over 30 years.
Manuel was our beloved husband and father, but first and foremost, he was a follower of Jesus Christ.
Manuel was a faithful servant of Christ. He was a member of CrossPointe Church, in previous years he was a member of Northside Baptist Church and Perimeter Road Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School for many years.
Over 30 years ago, Manuel started an exterminating company with a little bit of money and created a route. Over the years, he worked hard grew that into Azalea City Exterminating, which he owned and operated until his death. Additionally, he was elected by his colleagues around the state of Georgia to serve as the President of the Georgia Pest Control Association, a position in which he met with state officials, US Congressmen and Senators in order to advocate for the issues that mattered to his industry. He always insisted that his favorite part of his job was working his route, visiting with his customers, many of whom became dear friends over the years. His love for golf cannot be understated and he enjoyed traveling with his wife. They were on the way to the airport for their next adventure when God called him home. He enjoyed Tennessee Athletics and Duke Basketball. Manuel loved grilling, smoking meat and cooking. His friends and family enjoyed eating anything that came off his grill. Above all things, he loved his wife, whom he referred to as his “bride and best friend”.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Snipes of Valdosta; his daughter, Jessica Corbett of Portland, Maine; his sisters and brothers in law, Virginia Ann and Jose Barbosa of Brooksville, FL, Deborah Culberson of Tampa, FL; his aunts, Susie Mitchem of New Port Richey, FL, June Rather of Palm Desert, Calif. He was also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at CrossPointe Church with Pastor David Rogers and Rev. Ken Hall, who was his partner in crime on the golf course, officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CrossPointe Church Missions Fund in memory of Manuel, who had a love for missions, www.crosspointechurch.cc/manuel. It is his family’s wish to help directly support a church plant in Boston, which is being supported by both CrossPointe Church and Northside Baptist Church and Boston was a city he loved. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home.