Frankie "Nanny" McManus

Frankie “Nanny” Darkus King McManus of Gulfport, Mississippi, left this world on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at the age of 89. She passed away at her granddaughter’s home in Long Beach surrounded by her family.

Nanny was born on November 13, 1930 in Crystal Springs, Mississippi to the late Benjamin Franklin King and Clara Belle Martin King. She grew up with a strong love for her family and was a natural caregiver. From an early age she looked after those she loved, especially her brothers and sisters. She enjoyed playing basketball and hunting with her dad. As a young girl she married her love, Ira Thomas McManus, and moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to start her family.

She loved life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and was an avid gardener. She enjoyed fishing, catching crabs, blackberry picking, and boat rides to Ship Island. One of her greatest qualities was teaching the importance of the simple pleasures of southern living. In her free time, she would visit with friends and family on her porch where she could watch the hummingbirds feed in her garden. The only thing she enjoyed more than visiting her friends and family was making sure they were all fed. From her gumbo to her divinity candy she was a fantastic cook. Many of the ingredients she used came out of her own garden which she gladly shared with others. She was a woman who loved the simple things in life and she brought joy to all those around her. She was a beautiful dancer and had a great appreciation for music. She taught herself how to play the organ and some even had the pleasure of hearing her yodel.

Nanny believed in hard work, the importance of education, and a personal relationship with God. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Long Beach and also attended St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church with her family. She was a Christian of strong faith and always put her life in the hands of the Lord. She worked for everything she had in life but would gladly share with anyone she could. When it came to her family, she never missed a moment with them. She took care of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, spending hours rocking them as babies. As they grew, she was right there, ready to laugh and play or share her wisdom with them. She taught them how to garden, pick vegetables, plant flowers, value everything about the outdoors, admire simplicity and use their imagination. She was a playmate, a teacher, and had a natural gift as an animated storyteller. Not only did she raise her own family, she was also a caregiver to many other children and the elderly.

She is preceded in death by her brothers, Thomas, Charles, and Walter Green King; her sisters Euzenia L. King McDaniel and Jimmie Ruth King Noto; her son Thomas McManus; her son-in-law Cleveland “Bud” Garcia; grandson Thomas Garcia; and her beloved poodle Choco and her cat Domino.

She is survived by her daughter Linda McManus Garcia; her granddaughter Crystal Platts Skrmetta and her husband Ken; Teri Garcia Elliot and her husband Brett; Misty McManus McGinnis and her husband Joe; her grandsons Steven Green and Thomas Lee McManus; her great-grandchildren Kadin Snow and his girlfriend Maridane Hewes; Kaitlynn Snow and her boyfriend Nathan Claret; Timothy Skrmetta, Luke Skrmetta, Jessie Ford and her husband Chad, Janine Sparkman and her husband Wesley, Eric Elliot, Thomas Thorpe, Megan Thorpe, Jacob McGinnis, Jasmyn McGinnis, Hazel Jade McGinnis; daughter-in-law Patricia McManus; goddaughter Tina Noto; and many other family members and friends.

Nanny was an amazing daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, aunt, and friend. Her unconditional love and selfless generosity are well reflected in her daughter Linda Garcia. For the last ten years of Nanny’s life, Linda devoted all of her time caring for her sweet mother, bringing her places and making joyful memories; no daughter has ever loved her mother more. Nanny was a Christian of strong faith. She will be greatly missed, but we know she is in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

There will be a celebration of life service on her birthday November 13, 2020. Details will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Feed My Sheep of Gulfport or Harrison County Humane Society.