Manley A. Pope

GARNER A warm smile has entered heaven, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease, Manley Adrian Pope died peacefully at his home on December 30th, 2018. On September 16, 1956, Manley married his high school sweetheart Peggy Kirby whom he was lovingly married to for 62 years. Their two children, spouses and his five grandchildren brought him happiness beyond measure. They are: daughter Kimberly Pope Brunson and husband Phillip, son Manley Jr. and wife Amy, grandchildren: Nicholas, Jonathan and Elizabeth Ellis, Watson and Beecher Pope. He is also survived by his extended family, sisters Lillian P. Starling and Joyce P. Parrish, brother Glenn T. Pope and wife Rhonda, sisters-in-law Barbara K. Stephenson, Janet K. Bass and husband Raymond, brother-in-law Kenneth Kirby and wife Lannie. Mr. Pope was born on January 28th 1935, on a farm in Sampson County, North Carolina; the son of the late Adrian T. Pope and Lannie E. Bradshaw Pope. After graduating from high school in Dunn, N.C. and course work at NC State University, Manley began a career which spanned over forty years at Carolina Power and Light Co. His career was an intrinsic part of his life and he enjoyed working for various departments within the company. Manley began as a clerk in the accounting department and in 1964 he was promoted into the personnel department where he rose in the ranks from Director of Personnel Relations to Manager of Nuclear Relations and finally becoming Manager of Personnel Relations for the entire company. After retiring from the company in 1994, he founded The Pope Group Inc., a personnel consulting firm where he was able to share his expertise with other companies. Throughout his career, Manley took great pride in the many young people he was able to mentor. Manley served on the board of directors and as Chairman for American Society for Personnel Administration, Region V, serving North and South Carolina. He was also a member of the Employee Relations Committee and member of the EEI Nuclear Human Resource Committee along with the International Accounting Society. Manley was very active in civic and community activities, proudly serving on the board of directors for the Garner Optimist Club; Mayor’s Committee for the Employment of the Handicapped; Advisory Committee Southeastern Community College; Vice Chairman of Board of Directors CPL Political Action Committee. He and his wife Peggy are charter members of Aversboro Road Baptist Church in Garner, N.C. Prior to moving back to Garner in 2001, he served as Deacon at Pine Valley Baptist Church in Wilmington, N.C., as well as Chairman of the Personnel Committee of both Pine Valley Baptist and the Wilmington Baptist Association. Manley also served his country honorably for nine years in the United States National Guard. Manley will be remembered for his laughter and smile, care for others and fondness of old western movies. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be directed to UNC Department of Neurology. Checks should be made payable to the Medical Foundation of NC. Please note on the check that your gift is a memoriam for Manley A. Pope to the McFadyen Fund for Parkinson’s Research. Donations may be sent to the Medical Foundation of NC, Inc., PO Box 1050 Chapel Hill, NC 27514-1050. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Aversboro Road Baptist Church, Garner. The family will receive friends and relatives at a reception immediately following the service in the Fellowship Hall. Arrangements by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com.