Robert Fletcher Mann MD

Doctor Robert Fletcher Mann, 92, passed away peacefully on May 30, 2025, after living a wonderful life. He was born on November 7,1932 in Enfield, NC to William Marion Mann and Teressa Dickens Mann and predeceased by his brother, Dr. William Mann. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Beverly Coultas Mann, daughter Terrie Brown and husband Luke of Charlottesville, VA, daughter Caroline Mann of Norfolk, VA, son Robert F. Mann Jr. (Bobby) of Charles Town, WV, and son Michael and wife Soccoro of Va Beach, VA and grandchildren: Andrew Tonra and wife Alanna, Alexandra Brown and fiancé Christopher, Parker Tonra, Wilson Brown, Tanner Mann, Morgan Mann, Presley Mann, and Elise Mann. He was immensely proud of each of his 4 children and 8 grandchildren, and each one was his favorite. He is also survived by his beloved nephews and niece: William, Benjamin, Oliver and Teressa Mann and cousin, Ada Parker Shields and husband Clay, and his brother-in-law, Sherman Coultas and wife Muriel.
Bob was forever nostalgic for his small-town upbringing where he enjoyed scouting, boating, fishing and hunting and where our humble, golden boy shined as an athlete and scholar. Notably, he was the tennis ace on the one court in rural Enfield and would later be the captain of the tennis team at Wake Forest University. A proud Kappa Alpha, he excelled at WFU. He was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa society and graduated suma cum laude in 1955. In 1959, he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor fraternity and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Wake Forest Medical School. At North Carolina Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill, Bob rose from intern to become North Carolina's first General Practice resident. He then served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as Commander of 57 field hospital in Toul, France. There, he met and married Beverly, the vivacious red head from California. After romantic travels throughout Europe, the couple settled in Windsor, N.C. which was only slightly less rural than Enfield. In Windsor, Bob was the very personification of country doctor – just without the horse and carriage.
In 1967, the Manns relocated to Norfolk, Va for a three-year residency in internal medicine. Bob, the quintessential Southern gentleman, was welcomed with open arms and found his forever home and innumerable forever friends in Norfolk where he practiced medicine until retiring at age 84. With his black leather doctor's bag in hand and stethoscope around his neck, Bob was legendary for his house calls, bedside manner and work ethic.
Bob served in various capacities for the Medical Society of Virginia and the American Medical Association and on the advisory board of Norfolk's Health Department and Mayor's Youth Council. He was an associate Professor of Medicine at EVMS, board director of Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medical Director of an assisted care facility for many years. He was a founding director of Heritage (now Southern) Bank and then a longstanding advisory board member. He enjoyed his memberships at Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, Cedar Point Golf Club, the Norfolk German Club, the Virginia Reelers, the First Families of Virginia, and the First Families of North Carolina. The ultimate Deamon Deacon, he served 2 terms on the WFU alumni board. For almost 60 years, he was a loving member of First Presbyterian Church.
Bob loved the lord. He loved his family, his friends, and his patients. Once chatting with a group of doctors, Bev said she thought Bob should retire and take time to smell the roses. A young doctor spoke up and said, "You don't understand. His patients are his roses." For the past 3 years, his caregiver, Brenda Johnson, was his rose. Bob's family is forever grateful to Brenda and her love of "Doc". His family is also grateful for ACG Hospice Care, especially Nurses Doris Ridley and Bernadette and Chaplain Scott Baker, and for the staff at Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine, where his time was short but sweet thanks to their genuine care.
Bob loved reading the Bible and the classics. He loved fishing, sailing, tennis, and golf. He loved sitting on his porch with his little dog by his side gazing at the Elizabeth River. For the last 20 years, he found comfort and joy at his "cottage" in Sandbridge where he would read, sketch and paint. You could find "Bob Bob's" grandchildren driving him, with doughnuts from the Market, up and down Sandfiddler Road in his golf cart. The cottage was Bob's Happy Place, and the more family and friends there, the happier he was. His glass was never half-full nor half-empty. It was always overflowing. Even on his off days, he would proclaim: "Couldn't be better!" His eternal optimism, compassion, humility, patience, and compliments will be missed yet will endure as inspiration for all.
A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Friday, June 6 at 1PM. Private burial will be at the family plot in Enfield, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church - 820 Colonial Ave Norfolk, VA 23507; Wake Forest Medical School – Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157; or Sandbridge Rescue Squad – 305 Sandbridge Rd. VA Beach, VA 23450. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.hdoliver.com.