WILMINGTON — Mary Alice Kerr Manning, 88, departed for heaven Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019, from her home.
She was born Jan. 23, 1931, in Castle Hayne, where her parents, Clarence Merton Kerr and Blanche Burbank Oldham Kerr, farmed 100 acres on the Cape Fear River and were active in Wilmington’s City Market. Mary’s childhood memories of farming, 4-Hing and going to market were fond. One day in 1944 when Mary was 13, renowned artist Claude Howell sketched her selling flowers in the City Market, and he serendipitously gave young Mary Alice the sketch. She prized and preserved her beloved art her entire life and donated it in 2019 to Cameron Art Museum, where it is displayed for all to enjoy as “Mary Alice Kerr-13.”
Mary attended Wilmington College in 1949. She married Joseph Rudolph Manning July 4, 1950, a U.S. Marine. Together, they had 62 years of marriage. He died at home in 2012. They lived in Wilmington; Atlanta, Georgia; and Washington, D.C., and had seven children during those years. She endured her husband’s deployments while he was a career marine captain. She was an extraordinary homemaker. She cherished gardening, sewing, boating, fishing, cooking, and, most of all, family.
Mary had eight siblings and is survived by her brother, John Kerr of Melbourne, Florida; and sister, Dorothy Richards of Wilmington.
Mary was a loving mother and is survived by seven children, Rebecca Manning Stauffer (Ronald), Robert Manning, Brenda Manning Croom (Tony), John Manning, Rosemary Manning Britt (Charles), Jeffrey Manning (William Spruill) and Thomas Manning (Shawn); 10 grandchildren, Kai, Fisher, Jessica (Tanner), Zackery (Lauren), Tony Jr., Hannah, Amanda (Peter), Adam (Ashley), Jennifer (Jonny) and Joseph; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
The family will see friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 7, at Wilmington Funeral Chapel, 1535 S. 41st St., Wilmington. A Mass of resurrection will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, at St. Mark Catholic Church, 1011 Eastwood Road, Wilmington, where Mary was a founding member and former president of The Ladies Guild. Entombment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum alongside her husband.
Memorials may be made to Cameron Art Museum via tmcfunding.com, St. Mark Catholic Church via tmcfunding.com and Lower Cape Fear Hospice via tmcfunding.com. Heartfelt thanks to the LCFH care team and to Portia Williams who became a dear friend to “Ms. Mary” and family.
Share online condolences with the family at Wilmington Funeral & Cremation.
