Valentine, Lillian Manns

Lillian Manns Valentine, was born October 4, 1936, in New River, Va., to the late Hattie Laconia Austin and James Garfield Manns Sr. She lived in Greensboro, N.C., for most of her adult life. She passed away Wednesday, February 18, 2009, in Atlanta, Ga., after a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome Earl Valentine Jr.; two brothers, James Jr. and Andrew Manns; and one sister, Christine M. Hopkins.

Lillian was a member of First Missionary Baptist Church, New River, Va., and Providence Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C. She graduated from Christiansburg Institute and attended Hampton University, Blue Field State College and University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She majored in psychology and sociology. She worked in Radford, Va., at RAAP. In Greensboro she worked at Ever Green as a nursing assistant, JP Stevens, Greensboro Manufacturing, and Sands and Guilford County School System.

She leaves to cherish her memory, a son, Jerome Valentine III, of Greensboro, N.C.; daughters, Leslie Valentine, of Mableton, Ga., and Mekia Valentine, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; sisters, Elizabeth Casey, Nenzerine Lewis, Flossie Brown, and Betty Casey, of New River, Va., and Ava Pope, of Greensboro, N.C.; brothers, Charles (Caroline) Manns, and John Manns; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, February 21, 2009, at First Missionary Baptist Church, New River, Va. Visitation with the family will precede the memorial service beginning at 1:30 p.m. The family will receive friends at the home of Elizabeth Casey, in New River, Va. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in memory of Lillian Valentine to the American Cancer Society, 1825 Barrett Lakes Blvd., Ste. 280, Kennesaw, Ga. 30144.