Mr. Joseph Van Manning, beloved husband of Glenda Sue Bridges, of the Rosemont Community of Soperton passed away on Tuesday evening, November 16, 2021 at Community Hospice in Vidalia.

Mr. Manning was four days shy of his 80 ^th birthday.

Born in Dublin he was one of seven children born to the late William "Did" Manning and Lavada Crumley Manning.  Mr. Manning grew up in and was a lifelong resident of Treutlen County.  He attended the Rosemont School in the day when each small community had their own school that taught all ages; well ahead the days of bussing children to larger schools that served larger geographical areas.  His life of long and hard toil began at the age of sixteen when he went to work at Knox Lumber Company.  He later worked for the State of Georgia on the Bridge and Culvert Crew where he realized and developed his love of operating heavy equipment.  He worked for D.A. Stuckey in Dublin before joining the IBEW Local 474 and working at Plant Vogtle at the Savannah River Site as an Operating Engineer.  Mr. Manning retired from Plant Vogtle in 1989 and joined the Laurens County Road Works Department from where he retired in 2006.

He enjoyed fishing, gardening, building knives from discarded cross cut saws and spoiling his granddaughter.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by siblings; infant sister Eugenia Manning, infant sister Margaret Manning, sister Elizabeth Batts and a brother, Duron Manning.

Mr. Manning leaves behind, his wife of fifty-eight years, Glenda Sue Bridges Manning, their two sons, Mickey Manning and Wesley Manning (Melissa), all of Soperton, GA, a sister, Joanne Powell, Macon, GA, a brother, Olen Manning, Soperton, GA, his special granddaughter, Mikayla Manning and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Friday, November 19, 2021 from the graveside at the Van Manning Family Cemetery, on his property, at his residence with Gary Walden officiating.

Serving as pallbearers will be: little Archie Johnson, Colby Shepherd, John Burke, Clayton McCoy, Billy Wright and Sean Powell.

His family will receive friends on Thursday, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, at Sammons Funeral Home.

The Manning Family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Community Hospice for the care that was shown to Mr. Manning during his time of declining health.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Community Hospice,

904 Mt. Vernon Road, Vidalia, GA  30474

Please share a memory, leave a condolence message and sign the online guest register.

SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, MONUMENTS and FLORIST, The Tradition Since 1917, Soperton, Georgia