Thomas Jules Mann

1926 - 2025

Thomas Jules Mann

August 30, 1926 - September 8, 2025

Charleston, South Carolina - Thomas Jules Mann, 99, died Monday, September 8, 2025, surrounded by family. Born August 30, 1926, Huntington, West Virginia, he moved to Charlotte in 1938, attended Alexander Graham Jr. High and Central High and left at 16 to enter The Citadel, Charleston, SC. He was called to active duty in World War II, and attended Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA. After commissioning he was sent to Berlin to join the 78th Infantry Division. Upon returning, he re-entered The Citadel where he was graduated with Departmental Honors and attended the Wharton Graduate Division, University of Pennsylvania where he received his MBA in finance. As an Army Reserve Officer, he was transferred from Infantry to Military Intelligence.

He was married and devoted to his wife and best friend, Billye Hutto Mann for 76 years until her passing in 2024.

Tom's brilliant career of 56 years with Mutual of New York started July 4, 1949, where he obtained many company honors including Top Fifty, President's Council, Hall of Fame, Equity Leader and was often a Speaker at MONY's sales conventions. Having achieved his CLU designation in 1955, he was a Charter Member of MONY's CLU chapter, served as President of the Charlotte Chapter, American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters and was a Life and Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table for 26 years. He served on the board of several Charlotte corporations and headed his own corporation, specializing in pensions, profit-sharing plans, business and estate insurance, and investment allocation planning.

Extremely active in Freemasonry his entire adult life, he joined shortly before his graduation from The Citadel. Upon his return to Charlotte, he demitted to Phalanx Lodge, serving through the chairs to become one of its youngest Masters. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living Past Master. He served on many committees of the Grand Lodge of NC and was a Past District Deputy Grand Master. In 1953, he joined the Scottish Rite serving in many capacities. He was Coroneted 33rd Inspector General Honorary in 1969 in Washington, DC and dispensed over $1,000,000 in charitable funds over the 27 years he served as the Almoner for the Charlotte Scottish Rite Bodies and was designated Almoner Emeritus. He was also a member of Oasis Shrine.

Tom was a Lay Reader, president of the Men's Club, Confirmation class teacher, Senior Warden and member of the Vestry of the Church of the Holy Comforter in Charlotte, and after the family moved to Lake Norman, he was Treasurer for seven years at St. Albans Episcopal Church in Davidson. When Billye and Tom moved to James Island, Charleston, Tom became active in the Bishop Gadsden Chapel where he was Lector, and a licensed Worship Leader. He was in charge of the Veterans Day Service since 2007.

He was a member of the Research Committee of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Festival in the Park Committee and Stage Crew Chairman of Festival in the Park; Captain of Advance Gifts of Heart Fund; President, Masonic Temple Association for five years; Republican precinct chairman, delegate to District and State Conventions and active in Congressmen Jonas' and Martins campaigns; served three years as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors of the Association of Citadel Men (now the Alumni Association); Treasurer, Tar Heel Auto Sports Club, Inc.; member, Sons of Confederate Veterans; Treasurer and past SAYRA Regatta Chairman, Lake Norman Yacht Club, where he was an enthusiastic yacht racer racing his Cal 25, "Big Blue", garnering many trophies for first place.

Billye and Tom moved into semi-retirement at Bishop Gadsden in October 2005, (the Episcopal Church Home of SC) where they enjoyed life to the fullest, keeping up with friends and clients to the last, and making many more new friends. During the past seven years, Tom was honored to serve as the Class Chairman of The Citadel War Years Classes (1945, 1946. 1947 and 1948) and was principally responsible for raising funds to allow the War Years Classes to be one of the Supporting Classes of The Citadel's new War Memorial.

Surviving Tom are his five children, Stephanie Mann Reed of McClellanville; Tom, Jr. (Denise) of Charlotte, NC; Rob (Melinda) of Fort Mill, SC, Bill (Shelly) of Charlotte, NC and Beth Cavanaugh (Walker Moore) of Edisto Island, SC; fourteen grandchildren: Anna (Neal), Ian (Joslyn (dec)) and Allison (Kyle); Brandon (Cassidy), Emily (Kyle) and Jacob:; Alex (Dana) and Jeanna (Blake), Will, (Courtney), Ben (Savannah), and Grace (Palmer); Nick (Romana), Luke (dec) and Dirk. Tom is also survived by 22 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother, Edward Louis Mann of Scottsboro, AL, formerly of Charlotte.

Funeral services will be private.

Memorial donations may be offered in memory of Tom to Bishop Gadsden Resident's Employee Christmas Fund, One Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412.

Arrangements are in the care of Palmetto Cremation Society, 5638 N. Rhett Avenue, North Charleston SC 29406 and Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.