Lucille Smith-Manley, 93, passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, April 9, 2023 after a tenacious battle with cancer. She was diagnosed for a second time in January of 2015 after being in remission for 14 years. At the time of her diagnosis, she was given 18 months to live but her strength and faith in the Lord allowed her to battle her illness with grace, courage, and dignity for an additional 8 years!
Lucille was affectionately known as “Cil”, “Mama Cil”, “Aunt Cil”, and “Grandma Cil,” to those who knew and loved her. She was born on July 10, 1929 in Greenville, Mississippi to the late John Loston and Mary Jenkins. She spent her childhood years in Greenville but later left Mississippi, and decided to make Akron, Ohio her home.
She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. While living in Akron, she joined United Baptist Church and became a member of their congregation on November 11, 1984 under the leadership of Reverend Roderick Pounds Sr. She loved the Lord and spent much of her time listening to and singing her favorite gospel songs.
Lucille married the late James Manley on June 22, 2002.
She loved to read her bible, she loved spending time with and sharing stories with family, and she definitely loved going to the casino! She was a loving, caring person, and a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. She always put the needs of others first, never met a stranger, and if you knew her you could not help but love her! She will be remembered for her entertaining stories and her snarky but witty sayings like “You know I can see dry land through muddy water” and “He’ll lie to you quicker than a cat can…”. She’ll also be remembered by her powerful testimony and for her wisdom and generosity.
Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary, her husband, James Manley, her sister, Cora Suddeth, and her daughter, Beverly Hinton.
Her memory will be forever cherished and kept alive by her children, Joyce Manley, Anthony Wayne Wallace, Shearl Brown, and Kenny Bryant, her grandchildren, Ralph Hinton, Yolanda (Ronald) Clay, Thomas (Kimberly) Manley, by all of her other loving grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, her niece, Patricia Hughes, special friend Essie Brooks, friends Laurethia Taylor, Beulah McDay, Dorothy Pearson, and Arlene Markey, daughters Ann Bates, Sandy Harrison, and Maria Cross, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends.