Dr. Johann Ray Manning

Celebration of Life Services for Dr. Johann Ray Manning will be held Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 10:00AM. Location: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church 220 S. Wayne Street Milledgeville, Georgia 31061. Father David C. Probst, Officiating.

Johann Ray (Joe) Manning, MD, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2024.  He was born in New York City on September 14, 1933.  He was the son of the late Sim Counselor and Johanna Geigerseder Manning.  When he was a week old, his mother passed away due to complications from childbirth.   His paternal grandmother, Annie Lou Boatright Manning Brock and her husband, Fred Taylor Brock, brought him to Tennille, GA, to live with them.  He attended Tennille High School, graduated from North Georgia College and The Medical College of Georgia.

Dr. Manning completed his internship in Spartanburg, SC.  He began his OB/GYN residency in Greenville, SC, followed by two years in the United States Air Force in Salina, KS.  He completed his residency at the Macon (GA) Hospital and then joined Dr. Carl L. Beard in his practice in Warner Robins, GA.   Dr. Manning continued the practice after Dr. Beard retired and added offices in Macon and Hawkinsville.  

He was certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chief of Staff of the Houston County Hospital for four years and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for 10 years at the Houston County Hospital.

Dr. Manning will be remembered as an outstanding and compassionate physician who, throughout his practice, always put his patients first.  

In 1957, he married the love of his life, Elizabeth Day of Augusta, GA who died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.  He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.  He is survived by their three children:  Luanne Manning, of Dublin, GA; J. R. (Chip) Manning, Jr. (Leigh), of Huntsville, AL; and Homer Brock (Buddy) Manning (Teresa), of Dublin.  His grandchildren are:  Elizabeth Smith, of Dublin; Greg Smith, of Baltimore, MD; Meg Merrill (Charlie) of Naperville, IL; Trey Manning of Atlanta and Nick Peacock of Dublin.  His great-grandchildren: Kieran Peacock of Dublin and Mabel Merrill of Naperville, IL.  He was preceded in death by his long-time friend and companion, Katharine Clark of Dublin in May of 2022.

Joe’s celebration of life memorial service will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Milledgeville, GA on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. with interment immediately following in St. Stephen’s Church next to his “Darling” wife.  For those unable to attend the service but would like to take part in this celebration, you can find it live streamed at ststephensga.org then click the live stream button.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org;  

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 220 S. Wayne St., Milledgeville, GA 31061; All

Saints Episcopal Church, 1708 Watson Blvd, Warner Robins, GA 31093; or Henry Memorial Presbyterian Church, 511 Bellevue Ave., Dublin, GA.

Serenity Funeral Home – Dublin has charge of arrangements.

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