Pershing L Mann

Pershing Leon Mann was born to John T. Mann and Bertha Estelle Garner Mann on a small family farm near Newport, Carteret County, North Carolina on March 26, 1918, the oldest of five siblings. Bernice Mann, brother, of Newport, NC and Margaret Mann Nichols of Pipestem, West Virginia, brother Billy Mann of Muncie, Indiana, along with his father and mother are now deceased. He is survived by his brother, Robert (Bobby) Mann of Fort Myers, Florida, and family and friends in the Newport area. Having been brought up on a family farm in early 1918 he was taught the value and the ability to work and self reliance. Also, in a Primitive Baptist Culture his upbringing was pretty structured. He began his formal schooling at Newport Consolidated School in 1924 and graduated from that school in May 1936. There being no resources for college he worked for his uncle and in the first year made $300 net. Along the way, he learned about Christ and in June 1934 he professed Him as Savior at age sixteen in a little country Free Will Baptist Church called Holly Spring Church. The war came along in December 1941. He was drafted in February 1942 and sent to Ft. Knox, KY for basic training. He remained two years there, assigned to the "Special Services Program." In March 1944 he was transferred to the Ft. Benjamin Harrison Indiana just outside of Indianapolis again to Special Services as a Motion Picture Operator. While there in the Spring of 1945 he met a Women's Army Corp Sergeant. They were married August 21, 1946, at the Post Chapel there at Ft. Ben. In January 1947, they moved near Chicago, Illinois where he enrolled in Coyne Electrical School. Upon completing school he and his wife moved back to Kansas City, Kansas where she grew up. He gained employment with General Electric Company, Apprentices Service Business Division in Kansas City area. He grew as the business grew and ended up as a supervisor of Power Transformer Service Department. He retired in April 1983 after 35 years of service. He moved his church membership to First Baptist Church of Turner in June 1958 and became active and privileged one time or another to serve as Chairman of all boards or committees except American Baptist Women and Church Moderator. He taught Sunday School there for over fifty years. He and his wife liked to travel. They made five trips to Europe, one to Hawaii, one to Alaska, most of the lower 48 states. He was an avid gardener and a member of the Wyandotte County Master Gardeners Club until the infirmity of age took him from that activity. His wife Mary B. Mann, passed away 9-5-11 after sixty-five years of a happy marriage and several years struggle with Alzheimer's. His funeral is to be 10 AM Friday, January 11, 2019 at First Baptist Church of Turner, 701 So. 55th St., Kansas City, KS. with a visitation beginning at 9 AM until service time. He will be buried beside his wife in "Resurrection Cemetery" Quivira Road, Lenexa, KS. Remembrances can be given to the Memorial Fund of the First Baptist Church of Turner or the charity of one's choice. There are no children. May he rest in peace!

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Pershing L Mann

March 26, 1918 - January 7, 2019