Audrey Inez (Sircy) Manning

Our precious mother, sister, aunt, grandmama, and great-grandmama, Audrey Inez (Sircy) Manning, age 98, was called home to glory on June 29, 2022 shortly after her 98th birthday in West Kingston, Rhode Island. Inez, as her family and friends called her, was born in Smith County, Tennessee. Inez grew up near Carthage, and later moved to Hendersonville, TN. She worked for a time at National Life Insurance Company in Nashville where she met her future husband, Vernon Carl Manning, while riding his bus to work. They married on April 11, 1953 and moved to Florida. They lived in Jacksonville briefly where they welcomed two children into the world. In 1965, the family moved to Wildwood, where the family joined First Baptist Church. In 1973, Inez and Vernon built a home in Leesburg and became active members of First Baptist Church (FBC) of Leesburg. Over the years, Inez was active in the senior adult group and enjoyed numerous trips with them. She was an active member of the Women's Missionary Union and worked in the kitchen on Wednesday evenings for church suppers. She also volunteered in the benevolence ministry of FBC for decades, sorting clothes, and doing whatever else needed to be done. She was an active member in the women's auxiliary for Leesburg Regional Medical Center. She volunteered at their thrift store downtown a couple of days a week. Until 2018, Inez volunteered four days a week with either the benevolence ministry or the thrift store. Inez enjoyed working in her yard raising beautiful plants and keeping up with necessary tasks. During her years of widowhood (from 2000), Inez loved traveling with friends on cruises from Germany to New York, as well as to Alaska, and in the Caribbean. We recall Grandmama telling us about her big bus trip, made when she was a single woman. She made a trip to the West Coast with her best friend, Myrtha. Inez was often known to say, "I don't want to rust out, but I’m gonna wear out." Inez did just that - seeking to serve others until her body wore out. She so enjoyed making visits to her family including grandchildren and great-grandchildren in North Carolina who lovingly called her Great Grandmama. Even through the summer of 2021, she loved holding the babies or getting down on the floor with the little ones to color pictures or do puzzles. Inez is survived by: Her sister, Anita Sircy Durham (Donald) of Goodlettsville, TN; Children: Carl Sircy Manning of LaBelle, FL and Donna Manning Jarstfer (Daniel) of North Kingstown, RI. Grandchildren: Derek Jarstfer (Rachel) of Gastonia, NC; Danelle Jensen (Andrew) of Charlotte, NC; Dorothy Dillingham (Jared) of Weaverville, NC; and Deborah Linton (Evan) of Barnardsville, NC. Great Grandchildren: Hannah and Emma Jarstfer; Samuel, Nathaniel, Caleb, and Adelaide Jensen; Marjorie, Stella, Laurel, and Wesley Dillingham; Seth, Elisha, and Hazel Linton. Inez was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years - Vernon Carl Manning; her parents, Genie Earl Sircy and Sarah Katherine McCormick; her sister, Opal Murlene Sircy Johnson; her brother, Leon Graves Sircy; grandchild, Dale Joy Jarstfer; great grandchild, Micah Jesse Jarstfer. A time of visitation for family and friends will be prior to the service at 9:00 am. A service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, July 8, 2022 at the First Baptist Church Chapel, 220 N 13th Street Leesburg, FL 34748. Pastor Art Ayris, Pastor Gary Blanchard, and Pastor Daniel Jarstfer will officiate the service. A short graveside service will follow at Lone Oak Cemetery, 306 Thomas Ave, Leesburg, FL 34748 In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Inez Manning to: First Baptist Church Christian Care Center* 220 N 13th Street Leesburg, FL 34748 * This is the benevolence ministry that Inez volunteered with for many years.