Elder Lawrence Thornton Manley

Elder Lawrence Thornton Manley, 86, went home on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 after a long illness. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 3:00 PM at Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Apple Cemetery, Ashland Road in Caswell County. Mr. Manley was born on December 20, 1923 to the late Lawrence Franklin and Laura Lynn Manley. He was a lifelong member of the Primitive Baptist faith and served four churches as their preacher. Thornton served in the United States Army and was employed by Burlington Industries with 41 years of service. Along with his parents he is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Mary Apple Manley; brothers, Russell, Elwood and Webster Manley. He is survived by his daughters Donna Gayle Neal and husband, Robert Lee, Mary Ann Pickrell and husband, William and Kay, all of Reidsville; grandchildren Robert Allen Neal and wife, Jennifer of Blanch, NC; Cameron Neal and Kenneth Neal, both of Reidsville; great grandchildren Emma Neal and Eli Neal of Blanch, NC, and Allison Neal of Reidsville. He is also survived by his sister, Velma M. Cobb of Ruffin; brothers, Rufus Gordon Manley and wife, Kay, Clarence Willard Manley and wife, Cathy and Charles Wayne Manley and wife, Dixie. The family will receive friends from 7:00 – 9:00 PM on Friday, November 5, 2010 at Wilkerson Funeral Home and other times at the home, 3991 Ashland Road, Reidsville, NC. The family wishes to acknowledge and thank the Brian Center Rehabilitation Center in Eden, NC for the care and compassion they have shown Thornton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Palliative Care of Alamance and Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215.