Obituary of Virginia Gail Pierce-Brabner Manley

Virginia Gail Pierce-Brabner Manley, 70, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, died on March 11, 2013. Virginia was born on September 29, 1942 in Opp, Ala. She was a majorette at Opp High School where she graduated in 1960. She attended the University of Montevallo in Alabama, Patricia Stevens Modeling School in Atlanta, and Mobile School of Cosmetology in Mobile. She retired from McKee Foods in Collegedale. Virginia had a deep love for family and friends. She loved children and her home was open to many including two exchange students from Norway, Eileen Mitbo and Hilde Mitbo Croxall (Chattanooga). She enjoyed music and dancing with the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Shag Club where she was a member and officer for many years. She was an avid bridge player and played in a club with her dearest friends for as many as 40 years. She also enjoyed sight seeing and has taken many traveling adventures with her husband. She was preceded in death by her father, James Byrd Pierce and brother, Thomas James Pierce III of Opp. Survivors include her her loving husband, Brent Manley; mother Marie Pruitt Pierce (Andalusia, Ala.); son, John David and wife, Lisa Brabner (Chattanooga); daughter, Catherine “Kaki” and husband Tommy Thompson, Sr. (Chattanooga); daughter, Teresa and husband Reverend Brent Pope (New London, N.C.); son, Bryan and wife, Shannon Brabner (Atlanta); sister, Ellen Pierce Lamar (Montgomery); sister, Mary Lynn Pierce and husband Steve Edgar (Andalusia); stepchildren, John Douglas and wife, Vicki Manley (Ringgold); David Brenton and wife, Rebekah Manley (Chattanooga); grandchildren, Jay and Sarah Brabner (Andalusia); Tommy, Jr. and Katie Thompson (Chattanooga); Allison and Garrett Pope (New London, N.C.); Erica and Emerie Brabner, (Atlanta); stepgrandchildren, Robbie Lindner (Atlanta), Andrew Williams and Hannah Neff (Chattanooga); Alina and Hannah Grace Manley (Chattanooga), Micah and MacKenzie Manley (Ringgold) A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, at Hickory Valley Baptist Church, 2320 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421, with Reverend Brent Pope officiating. Visitation with the family will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hickory Valley Baptist Church, Attention: Starr, 2320 Hickory Valley Rd. Chattanooga, Tn. 37421, or online at https://e-giving.org/egivinglogin.asp or Make-A-Wish Foundation of America Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 6062, Albert Lea, Mn. 56007-6662. Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home, St. Elmo.