Pastor Theodore Deering Manning, 88 went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, February 7, 2020. He was born into a loving family in Ponzer, North Carolina on August 27, 1931. He attended Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, FL but considered Morningstar Family Church in Middleburg, FL his home church. He was called by God to become a minister in 1949 and enrolled in Atlanta Christian College soon after. He attended for 4 years, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry in 1953. While attending Atlanta Christian College (ACC), he became an ambassador for the school as a member of a traveling quartet. The group traveled around the southeast singing and preaching while encouraging young adults to attend ACC. He also was a preaching intern at First Christian Church in Clinton, Illinois in 1951 and the youth minister of First Christian Church of Carrollton, GA during his senior year of college (1952-1953).
After graduating from college, he married Sarah Anne Johnson and they moved to Pinetown, North Carolina where he became a preacher to two congregations, alternating preaching services every other weekend at each church. Those churches were Pinetown Church of Christ and Beaver Dam Church of Christ. In 1956, he accepted a position at First Christian Church of Bluff City, TN. He led this congregation for six years before leaving for Salisbury, NC. where he was called by a group of people to come plant a church in an area that had no Christian church. He started First Christian Church of Salisbury, NC with about 5 families and led that congregation until 1967. The church grew in number and became a thriving congregation. In 1967, First Christian Church of Carrollton, GA called him to return there to become their senior pastor. He pastored there until 1973 when he was called to Florida. He began Orange Park Christian Church which later was renamed Victory Christian Center. He pastored there until his retirement in 2001. After this, he attended Morningstar Family Church where he ministered alongside Pastor Tom Croft for many years until his health failed. He had a lifelong call to the ministry and loved teaching the Word of God to anyone who would listen to him.
He was the youngest of a large family. His parents Fletcher and Katy Manning, brothers Austin, Jimmie, Edward, and Floyd, and sister Kathryn all pre-deceased him. His loving wife Sarah Anne Manning pre-deceased him in 2000. Two grand-daughters Rebekah and Katy Williams pre-deceased him in 2000, and grand-daughter Shannon Manning passed away at birth in 1982. He is survived by his children, Ted Manning, Deborah Manning Williams (Kim), Ginny Manning Benenate, Stephen (Sheri) Manning, and Laura Manning Long. He also has many grand-children and great-grandchildren who love and miss him and are very thankful for his loving legacy and lifetime example of living a life dedicated to Christ.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at New Beginnings Church located at 1134 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, FL 32065 with visitation being held 1 hour prior to the service for those who would like to attend. Burial will be held at 2:30 PM at HOLLY HILL FUNERAL HOME AND MEMORIAL PARK, 3601 Old Jennings Road, Middleburg, FL. Please post words of comfort at www.hollyhillfunerals.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of T. Deering Manning can be made to Point University, previously known as Atlanta Christian College, at http://point.edu/give or mailed to Point University, Attn: Advancement Department, 507 W 10th St., West Point, GA 31833. The family of T. Deering Manning thanks you for your love and support.
