James Arthur Mann

About the Mayberry it could be,--

The simple ways he shared the news,

With tender honesty.

His message made you laugh,

Even when the subject was hard;

For love of Fredericksburg, sweet “framily,”

Jim Mann’s final story has come to be.

James “Jim” Arthur Mann completed his final chapter on January 16, 2022. He was 79.

Born March 11, 1942 in Washington DC, his family followed his father’s phone career to Fredericksburg in 1950. His parents, Arthur Newton Mann and Hazel Marie Dunnington, built the home on Winchester St. where Jim would grow up, and later raise his own family with his wife Mary.

At 10, Jim started delivering newspapers for The Free Lance-Star in that same neighborhood, which also included neatly placing the paper in a basket at the home of long-time publisher and owner of the paper Josiah Rowe. Although Jim’s life would take him away for college and into the war zone of Vietnam, he never lost touch with what became a family of life-long friends at the paper.

“The one thing that connected all of his stages of his life was always publishing and writing about people,” said Jim’s son Geoff.

Jim attended James Monroe High School, where he balanced a reputation for causing a ruckus and being a role model student.

He served as class president, often having long talks each morning with the principal about their mutual challenges. At the same time, he operated an underground newspaper, “The Sea-Gull Journal,” where he and several other students would poke fun at the teachers and leverage the power of journalism to effect change in the school. The lightbulbs in a dark school hallway could not have been changed faster after a few parents got ahold of the edition that spilled the beans on the making out that was happening there.

Jim studied political science and journalism at the University of Iowa, where he also joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and entered the Army as a second Lieutenant. He served three years active duty, including deployment to Vietnam as a member of the 128th Assault Helicopter Company, call sign “Tomahawks.”

The stories he eventually shared about his adventures as “The Cheerios Kid,” flying Hueys with “more bullet holes than the maintenance officers could accurately count,” explained why he was honored with the two distinguished flying cross awards within a three-month period. Eleven years after returning from Vietnam he would return to flying Hueys for the Virginia Army National Guard in Richmond.

While in the service, Jim compiled and printed a regular newspaper called “Smoke Signal.” It recorded funny quips and important happenings within the unit. He also maintained his connection with The Free Lance-Star as a correspondent on the Vietnam War.

Jim would officially return to The Free Lance-Star in 1969, leaving only briefly to start a printing business with his brother Tom in 1974. Billingsley Printing became a staple in Fredericksburg, but the newspaper was always calling him. In his time at The Free Lance-Star, Jim would serve as a reporter, photographer, designer, and eventually Assisting Managing Editor before he retired in 2004.

He met his wife Mary at the newspaper, while she was working on a summer edition of the Bullet, the Mary Washington College student paper. Jim would drive the entire beltway in one evening, from Fredericksburg to Annandale and back, to take her on a date. They were married for 52 years and had three children, Geoff, Emily and Jonathan Zephyr. When Mary gave up her career to care for the family, Jim hung her photography awards front and center in his office—right next to an autographed photo of Don Knotts as Barney Fife, of course.

Many-a-reporter spent time in that office, as Jim was the go-to place for newsroom staff needing to vent, pitch a story or even solve a personal problem.

“I remember countless times where I went into Jim’s office to complain about something or other and he would listen quietly, while nodding along,” said Maria Carrillo, former editor at The Free Lance-Star. “And then he would turn the conversation to a story about his kids or Mary or his mother-in-law—something that had absolutely nothing to do with what I was complaining about. But before too long, I had forgotten why I had come into his office or what I was upset about. It was brilliant.”

Laura Moyer, a long-time Free Lance-Star colleague, remembers the lesson she learned from Jim when she wrote a story about a couple that got married after reuniting at a friend’s funeral.

“Jim read the draft and said I had to warn the mother,” Moyer said. “She couldn't be blindsided. It just wasn't fair.”

Calling the bereaved mother was the last thing Moyer wanted to do. Then, Jim said, “Would you like me to call her?” He did, and the mother was honored that her son’s memory played a role in the couple’s happiness.

“He didn't just tell me how to be a better journalist, he showed me,” Moyer said.

Jim was also the first to go to bat for someone he thought needed an opportunity or more support from the company. Reporters who were having a hard day often returned to the newsroom to find Carl’s Ice Cream on their desk. Some even called him their “work dad.”

One time, a young reporter found the back end of her car was smashed in The Free Lance Star parking lot while she had been in the newsroom for the day. Jim meticulously measured the damage and determined that a circulation truck was responsible. No one fessed up. Jim, however, convinced the company they were responsible for fixing it; and he personally saw to it that her car was delivered to a quality autobody shop and restored appropriately.

“I will forever remember how he came to my rescue when he didn’t have to, and how kind and steadfast he was,” said Kristen Davis.

Jim was never ruffled, even on a deadline. The most discontent he showed was a notorious eye roll and a classic “woh boy” at the presentation of a problem; and even that was funny.

More than once his smooth temperament kept a reporter out of jail or convinced an angry caller that they owed someone an apology. And he was definitely the person you wanted to catch on the phone late at night if you were the young reporter who wrecked the company car.

“Jim was the soul of the newsroom,” said retired Free Lance-Star Editor-in-Chief Ed Jones. “He not only had this commitment to tell it like it is journalism, he also had a manner about him that was so infused with kindness.”

Jim loved telling stories, whether in writing or around the table. There was an Andy Griffith connection for every situation. He often wrote of Mayberry as an American ideal, and his love for Emily Dickinson.

Long after he left the paper, Jim remained the ultimate cheerleader for newsroom staff. He continued to read the paper every morning; and he wouldn't hesitate to pick up the phone and let a reporter know they did a good job.

“For Jim, journalism was always more of a craft, a calling and a public service than it was about him personally,” Moyer said.

In 2005, Jim received the Virginia Press Association’s highest honor, the George Mason Award; but used his acceptance speech to highlight the stories of others he enjoyed editing and reading.

He also had the entire room rolling with laughter when he shared how an article he read about Gulf War soldiers using condoms to protect their rifles inspired his fantastic idea for “weapon protectors” as party favors at the Virginia Army National Guard convention. Jim acquired more than 1,000 condoms and labeled them with sizes to distribute in accordance with military rank and position of those in attendance.

“He was never afraid to come up with an idea, follow through on it and spread positivity into the world,” said Jim’s daughter Emily.

There was also the time that Jim read about the practicality of driving a hearse as a personal vehicle—lots of storage, you never get pulled over, etc. He found one in Ohio and bought a one-way ticket to buy it. Only problem was that it broke down just a mile off the car lot. He took it back to the dealer who said it would take weeks to repair. Since Jim had no other way home, the dealer allowed him to use one that needed to be shipped out of Baltimore a few weeks later. For five weeks, Jim drove that hearse everywhere he could-- through the drive through, to Carl’s Ice Cream, packing scout equipment—just to get a rise out of people.

“My dad loved to tell stories because it would make people smile,” said Geoff.

Jim was the same, whether you found him in the newsroom, Zane’s barbershop, Carl’s Ice Cream, the pool hall, in his neighborhood or at home with his family.

He had a reputation for shaking up the neighborhood, especially on Halloween when he would blare spooky music and eventually Christmas Carols, as trick or treaters wandered from house to house.

He was a member and long-time fixture at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, where he and another legacy member cared for the bell tower. They affectionately called themselves the “Grand Ding-a-Lings,” and Jim would ensure that any kid that wanted to ride the bell tower rope had the opportunity to do so.

Jim served as a long-time volunteer for Boy Scout Troop 170. Legend has it that he personally printed and delivered flyers all over town reminding people to leave food out for the scout’s annual collection. They always picked up more food than could fit in the church’s pantry.

As Jim’s wife and children reminisced about his life recently, they each had ten to twenty ball caps of Jim’s in their lap—one for every school they attended, sport they played or event they were involved in.

Geoff recalls one time he went out of town for the weekend with a friend. They arrived at their destination, several hours away, to find Jim knocking on the door shortly after their arrival. Geoff had left his suitcase sitting beside the backdoor and Jim knew he would need it.

“He would never hesitate to jump in the car and go because someone was going to need it,” Geoff said. “His time and energy and sacrifice was never a factor.”

One of Jim’s last writing assignments was his firstborn grandson, Theo, while Geoff was serving as a Blackhawk pilot in Bosnia. For more than three years, every week, Jim wrote hilarious letters to Geoff “from Theo” and also shared them with others.

“These letters went viral,” Emily said. “People couldn’t wait to hear what ‘Theo’ would write next week.”

Jim is survived by his wife, Mary of Fredericksburg; three children, Geoff (Becky) of Henrico, Emily (Steve) of Hanover and Jonathan Zephyr (Erin) of Richmond; eight grandchildren, Theo, Jackson, Ellie, Josie, Liliana, Gunner, Ginna, Vanessa. Brother Tom Mann of Fredericksburg; Sister Jane Patton of Florida (Charlie). Three nieces, Aude, Coco, and Lisa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife’s parents, and a sister-in-law, Lydie.

A viewing will be held at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Service, Thursday, January 27, from 6 to 8 pm. The funeral is scheduled Friday, January 28 at 12:30 at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, with interment following at Oak Hill Cemetery. A reception will be held at 3pm.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church, 1009 Stafford Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, at 10:30 am Monday, January 31, 2022

Donations may be made to ALL.org,

or Tunnels to Towers, donationsupport@t2t.org