By Staff
William Austin Mann, 85, died Tuesday, January 22 at his vacation home at Woodstock on the Pungo in Beaufort County. Mr. Mann was born March 11, 1922 in Lake Landing, NC to the late Thomas Jefferson Mann and Blanche Bonner Mann. He attended Louisburg College, served in the US Merchant Marines in the Pacific theater during WWII, and married Mary Louise Sparrow who preceded him in death. He later married Dorothy Skinner Taylor who survives him.
Bill was a lifelong Methodist and active in the Grifton Masonic Lodge. He retired from DuPont in 1982 after 29 years of service. His community service included assisting with the restoration of the Grifton Depot, the recovery effort after Hurricane Floyd, Christmas bell-ringing for the Salvation Army and volunteering at Pitt Memorial Hospital. Bill was chivalrous and a true gentleman. He was a gentle soul and we thank him for sharing his life with us.
In addition to Dorothy Mann, his wife of 34 years, Bill is survived by his daughters Billie Jean Mann of Belhaven, Ella Hudson and husband Joe of Mt. Pleasant, SC; his daughter-in-law Katherine Sawyer Mann of Wilmington; his brother Walter B. “Tommy” Mann and wife Kay of Cary; sister Ella Bonner Gunn of Shelby; sister-in-law Lela D. Mann of Raleigh; six grandchildren, Karma Warren, David Hudson, William Allen Hudson and wife Michelle, and Austin, Charlie, and Mary Ashburn Mann; and two great-grandchildren, Samantha Warren and David J. Hudson Jr. as well as a large clan of much loved nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his stepson William Bruce Taylor and wife Ann of Bear Grass; step daughter-in-law Ann Taylor of Washington and step grandson Aubrey Taylor of Raleigh.
In addition to his first wife, Mary, and son, Samuel Austin Mann, Bill was preceded in death by his brothers Thurston, Norfleet and Harvey Mann and sisters Myra Jennette and Jane Ferguson.
A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, January 26 at 1:00 at the Grifton United Methodist Church with a reception and visitation immediately following in the Fellowship Hall. Memorial contributions may be made to the “Friends of Amity” (Methodist Church in Lake Landing, N.C.), 88 Sally Lane, Belhaven, N.C. 27810.
The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. J. Thomas Lee, not only an excellent and committed oncologist, but also a human being extraordinaire!
Bill truly lived in the manner expressed in one of his favorite poems “Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.”
You may share a memory with the family by visiting www.hillsidefuneralservice.com
Hillside Funeral Service of Washington is serving the Mann family.
Paid Obituary