CSM Billy G. Manning Obituary

CSM Billy G. Manning died Monday, November 4, 2013 at Willson Hospice House. His funeral service will be 11 AM Friday, November 8, 2013at Friendship Baptist Church with interment in Leesburg Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors. Born in and raised in Lee County, CSM Manning graduated from Lee County High School in 1954 and was the principal advisor to the Adjutant General of Georgia on all enlisted matters in the Georgia Army National Guard. He enlisted in the Georgia Army Guard in August of 1954 and was assigned as a Scout in the Reconnaissance Platoon of the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry in Albany. He went on active duty in January 1958 and served at Fort Jackson, SC and Fort Chaffee, AR. He was then assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery at Fort Bragg, NC. He rejoined the Georgia Army Guard in January 1960 as a full-time technician. His assignments include Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Battalion Operations Sergeant and Battalion Command Sergeant Major. He was assigned to Headquarters, Georgia STARC, in May 1985 as State Command Sergeant Major. CSM Manning's decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 hourglass devices and the Army Service Ribbon. His state awards include the Georgia Distinctive Service Medal and the Georgia Commendation Medal. His military education includes XVIII Airborne Corps NCO Academy, Fort Bragg Artillery Fire Direction School, Fort Benning NCO Career Development Course, Army Precommissioning Course, Infantry School, Fort Bragg Army Intelligence School, Georgia Military Institute Advance NCO course and Georgia Military Institute Senior NCO Course, CSM Manning's civic affiliations include the Association of the US Army, Life Member Non- Commissioned Officers Association, the National Guard Enlisted Association, the Masonic Lodge # 701 F&AM, Hasan Shrine where he served as Past President, Scottish Rite and is a member of Friendship Baptist Church. He served on the Board of Directors for the Lee County Farm Bureau for 14 years, the Lee County Planning Commission and the Albany Federal Employees Credit Union Survivors include the love of his life for 56 years and his wife of 52 years Patricia Wheaton Manning of Leesburg, his daughters, Monica Manning Miller and her husband David Miller, Superior, CO, Veronica Manning Johnson and her husband Michael W. Johnson, Leesburg, Mitzi Manning Conners and her husband Richard Conners, Jr. Easton, PA; grandchildren, Caroline Miller, Hollis Johnson, Merritt Johnson, Collen Conners, Kate Conners, and Rodney Arrington. In lieu of flowers please make memorials to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.

CSM Billy G. Manning Obituary

April 17, 1936 - November 4, 2013