Victor Levon Manley

Victor Levon Manley was born to the Late Jimmy Levon Manley I and Rosie Manley on November 19, 1965 in Wayne County, North Carolina. Growing up Vic was known best for two things: being a practical jokester and an outstanding athlete. His joy in spreading laughter to others as well as his passion for athletics both followed him into adulthood. He first began playing baseball and football through the Boys Club in Mount Olive, North Carolina. “The Manley Boy” was commonly talked about in the local athletic community and many had their eyes on Victor as he prepared to start his high school athletic career. While he did begin his high school athletic career as planned, instead of being at the small local high school in North Carolina, it would be at Long Beach Jordan High School in California.

Moving from a small town in North Carolina to a large city in California would be a challenge for any teenager. However, as long as Victor had access to a football or baseball field, he would be just fine. While in high school, Vic also found a new passion, wrestling. Though he loved and excelled at most sports, he performed best in wrestling. Being both athletic and studious, he was offered a wrestling scholarship to Standford University. Though the offer was tempting, Vic felt his life purpose would be best fulfilled closer to home. As a result, he enrolled in and completed a computer program at a local community college and began working under the leadership of his dad at Excell-Linde Home Fashion. During this time, Victor fell in love with one of his former schoolmates. Late summer of 1985, she and Victor would embark on the adventures of parenthood when they welcomed their son Jimmy Levon Manley II.

Though the romantic aspects of this relationship did not last, Vic was grateful beyond words to be granted the gift of Fatherhood. While splitting his time between working to provide for his son and spending time with his son, Victor met and developed a lifelong relationship with Julia Smith. Julia and Victor supported each other through many stages of life including childrearing and the loss of loved ones.

Despite being from North Carolina, Vic identified California as “home”. It is where he graduated, became a dad, and of course was home to his beloved “Los Angeles Lakers”. However, there was a part of his heart that he left in North Carolina all those years ago, his middle school sweetheart. In 2003, they welcomed their daughter, Vyonnie Manley.

In his adult life, Vic could be described as a hard worker and “family man”. Following his job at Excell-Linde, he went on to work for Ralph’s Distribution Center for 25+ years. He shared his wisdom about athletics and life in general with his children as well as his nieces and nephews. Following the move of his parents back East, he would visit as often as he could and enjoyed attending church services at his childhood church Piney Green Free Will Baptist Church.                                                                                                                                                                          
Victor was preceded in death by his father, Jimmy Manley I; maternal grandparents James and Dorothy Pearsall; paternal grandparents Swindell Pemberton and Jessie Bell Webb; three aunts and three uncles. He is survived by his son Jimmy Manley II (LaToya Kamara Manley); Vyonnie Manley; grandsons River Kamara Manley and Rocky Kamara Manley; Mother Rosie Manley; sisters Tracey Branch and Tonya Core (Kelly); bonus sister Shelia Davis; two nieces Nadia Jones (Clayton) and Nikea Randolph; three nephews Joey Redding, Jordian Redding, and Nicholas Randolph; three great-nieces; three great- nephews; three aunts; two uncles; three great-aunts; two great-uncles as well as many cousins and friends.

To know Victor was to know laughter, wisdom, and when to catch the next Washington Redskins (Commanders) football game. To love Victor is to love his children, grandchildren, daughter-in-law, family, and Kobe Bryant. To live like Victor is to say what you mean, when you mean to, and how you meant to say it. Rest in power to the best dad, granddad, son, brother, uncle and friend we could have ever asked for.

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