John Michael Manasco

John Michael Manasco was born on December 5, 1942 and departed this life on August 5, 2023. Mr. Manasco grew up in Brewton, Alabama, where he graduated from TR Miller High School as a handsome football star with the hard-earned nickname "Moose." Just a few months before his graduation, President Kennedy urged Americans to "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," so Mike enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he earned bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Alabama. Mr Manasco was predeceased by his parents, Cecil Vernon Manasco and Kathleen O'Bannon Manasco, and his sister Margaret Manasco Montgomery.
Mr. Manasco is survived by his devoted wife of nearly forty-eight years, Jennifer Prestwood Manasco, their children, Anna M Manasco and John M Manasco, Jr (Kristen); his children Yvette M Greene (Mike) and Adam P Manasco (Stephanie); grandchildren Beau, Isabelle, and Edmund ("Teddy") Dionne; John Michael III, Mason, and Everette ("Rhett") Manasco; and Tucker, Brenden and Calen Greene; and his sister Augusta Manasco Folmar (David).
Mr. Manasco had a thirty-year career in service to families and children. He started as a child protective case worker with the Alabama Department of Pensions and Security (later the Department of Human Resources), where he met his future wife. He then served as Special Master for the Montgomery County Family Court while earning his law degree. On entering law practice, he was appointed by the Governor of Alabama as a member of the Alabama State Board of Human Resources. Over the years, his knowledge of the law, his judicious temperament, his training in the Corps, and his keen ability to de-escalate conflict earned him the respect of courts, other attorneys, his clients, and even adverse parties. He regularly presented continuing legal education seminars for the University of Alabama, and his advice was often sought by fellow lawyers. He became Montgomery's first Fellow of the peer-elected American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, served as President of the Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar, and was appointed to the committee that prepared the original set of Child Support Guidelines for Alabama. On closing his private law practice, he was appointed General Counsel to the State Treasurer of Alabama.
Mr. Manasco was deeply devoted to God, family, and community. He was a member of Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Birmingham at the time of his passing and previously served in various ways at St John's and Church of The Holy Comforter in Montgomery. He coached youth baseball, was an assistant scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, was President of the General Richard Montgomery Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution, was a lifetime member of the Marine Corps League, and was a member of the Society of the Descendants of Washington's Army at Valley Forge.
We will miss Mike's knowledge, wisdom, humor, integrity, kindness, and his love. As his legacy, we carry these forward as his spirit lives on in us.
The family is deeply grateful to Dr Harold Simon, Medical Director, and staff of the Col. Robert L Howard State Veterans Home. Private Visitation with family will be from 3:00-4:00 p.m. on August 12, 2023, at St Stephen's Episcopal Church in Brewton followed by private funeral and committal for family with WILLIAMS MEMORIAL CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME OF BREWTON, ALABAMA DIRECTING. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates contributions in memory of John Michael Manasco to Col. Robert L Howard State Veterans Home, 7054 Veterans Pkwy, Pell City, AL 35125.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of
John Michael Manasco, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.