Rena M. Manning's Obituary
Rena M. Manning, age 90, of Memphis, TN passed away May 1, 2019 in Sealevel, NC. She was born September 28, 1928 in Memphis, TN, to Gideon Lee Mitchell, Sr. and Eunice Dixon Mitchell. She was predeceased by her siblings, Gideon Mitchell, Jr., Phillip Dixon Mitchell, Carolyn Mitchell Wiesman, her first husband, Charles Wren Ellis, Jr, and her second husband, B. Paul Manning.Mrs. Manning graduated in 1946 from Tech High School. In 1950, she graduated from Memphis State University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Rena was a soprano soloist at Linden Avenue – Lindenwood Christian Church for over thirty years and also sang with Memphis Opera Theatre with roles in “Amahl and the Night Visitors”, “Rigaletto”, “Susanna”, “Barber of Seville”, and “Carmen”. She was active in several music clubs in Memphis. She served as President of Etude, Camarata, Renaissance and Beethoven Music clubs and had been on the Board of Directors of the Beethoven Club, Memphis Opera Theatre and Opera Memphis.Rena was a life-long member of Lindenwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where she was a Life Elder, member of the Chancel Choir, Friendship Sunday School Class, and Christian Women’s Fellowship. She served as President of the Christian Women’s Fellowship at Lindenwood, the state of Tennessee CWF and the board of the International CWF. Rena ministered to children as the Youth Director at Linden Avenue and as a camp counselor for many years at her beloved Bethany Hills Camp.She is survived by her children; Charles W. Ellis, III (Kathy), Marena Ellis McDonald, Mary Ellis Phillips (John), grandchildren; Jennifer Netherton, Will Ellis, Mary Flesher, Ian Phillips, Jack Phillips and six great-grandchildren.Visitation will be from 10:00am until the commencement of the funeral service at 11:00am in the sanctuary at Lindenwood Christian Church, 2400 Union Avenue in Memphis on Saturday, May 11, 2019 with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue in Memphis.Donations in her memory are requested to be given to Lindenwood Christian Church for Lindenwood Music or Bethany Hills Camp or PKD Foundation.
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