Robert Russell Manson

Robert Russell Manson was born in Memphis, Tennessee on August 14, 1943 to the late Robert and Ozzie Mae Manson. Robert was raised by his late grandparents, William Baxter and Lillie Pauline Crosby, in Louisville, Mississippi.

As a child, Robert accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age. He attended Friendship

Missionary Baptist Church in Louisville, Mississippi.

Throughout Robert’s elementary and secondary education, he attended and graduated from the

Louisville Colored School System in 1964. During his high school years, Robert lettered in

football, basketball, and track. He received a football scholarship to the Arkansas Agricultural,

Mechanical & Normal (AM&N) College, now known as the University of Arkansas at Pine

Bluff (UAPB). In 1968, Robert earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Parks and Recreation

with a minor in Health & Physical Education.

In 1964, Robert had a son named Sanford F. Green. Later, Robert met Mary L. Caldwell at

AM&N. And, on December 26, 1966, Robert married Mary L. Caldwell. In 1969, they had a

daughter named Cassandra D. and a son named Robert R. in 1975. They were married for 56

years.

Moreover, Robert was a member of Browns Chapel CME Church in Brinkley, Arkansas. He

was, also, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc and a member of the Masonry Fraternity.

In 1968, Robert began his teaching and coaching career at Holly Grove Vocational High School.

He served as the health & physical education teacher and the head senior high boys basketball

coach.

In 1969, Robert was hired at Marian Anderson High School. During that time, he served as the

health & physical education teacher, an assistant senior high football coach, head junior high

football coach, and a head senior high boys basketball coach.

In 1970, Robert continued his teaching and coaching career at Brinkley High School and

Brinkley Middle School. At the high school level, he served as an assistant junior high football

coach for fourteen seasons. And, at the middle school level, he served as the health & physical

education teacher for 14 years as well. Then, during the 1974-1975 school year he served as the

senior high boys head basketball coach for ten seasons. During the 1976-77 school year, he

served as the junior high boys head track coach. During the 1977-1978 school year, he served as

the junior high girls head track coach. And, during the 1980-81 school year, he served as the

junior and senior high girls head track coach.

In 1984, Robert served as the health & physical education teacher and the head senior and junior

high boys basketball coach at C.V. White High School for nine seasons.

In 1993, Robert served as the health & physical education teacher, the head senior and junior

high girls & boys track coach, as well as, the head senior and junior high girls & boys basketball

coach at Cotton Plant High School for ten seasons.

Consequently, throughout Robert Manson’s 35 years of teaching and coaching, Robert served as

an inspirational and motivational role model who empowered all of his students and student-

athletes to achieve to their maximum "genius" potential.

“Coach” or “Coach Manson” as he was commonly called, was an all around “easy to love” guy who never met strangers. He enjoyed traveling, especially to his hometown of Louisville, Mississippi and to Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri. He loved grilling and hosting fish fries and BBQ’s. Coach was an avid gardener and he possessed a strong “green thumb”. Robert loved spending time with his family whenever he could, and he enjoyed watching one of his favorite game shows “Family Feud” hosted by one of his favorite comedians Steve Harvey.

On March 7, 2023, Robert Russell Manson heard a voice from Heaven say "Well Done..." and his soul was surrendered to Glory. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Ozzie Mae Manson, and his grandparents, William Baxter and Lillie May Crosby.

He is survived by his wife Mary L.

Manson of Brinkley, Arkansas, his three children, Sanford F. (Yvonne) Green of Florissant,

Missouri, Cassandra D. (Jesse) Sands of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Robert R. Manson II of North

Little Rock, Arkansas; three granddaughters, Alicia Green, Jocelyn Sands, Jessica Sands; two

grandsons, Aaron Adams, Brandon Oliver; one great-grandson Ju’Coby Womack Jr.; a God-

grandson Anfernee Harris, a great-God granddaughter Harmani Harris; one brother William C. Manson of Calumet City, Illinois , one sister Laura ‘Peggy’ Hoskin of Louisville, Mississippi;

nine first cousins Walter Crosby, Demorris Crosby, Lorraine Bonaparte, Charles Moore, Eric

Hudson, Michael Hudson, Duane Hudson, Elaine Johnson, LaVada ‘Cookie’ McQueen-

Williams, three nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.

Coach Robert Manson was indeed an icon throughout the entire area, and he will forever live within the hearts of the many athletes, students, colleagues, family, and friends he touched. Rest in forever peace, Coach Robert Russell Manson.

A visitation will be held on Friday, March 17, 2023 from 5-7 pm at Branscumb Funeral Home Chapel (911 N. Main Street, Brinkley, AR). Funeral will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Mt. Of Olives Ministries in Brinkley, AR. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery in Brinkley, by Branscumb Johnson Gilchrest Funeral Home of Brinkley.