| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 7 Jan 2004.
Cleo Bell Smith obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 18 Apr 2007.
Manes and Mayes purchase Brown Funeral Home
Photo by Duay O'Neil Charlie Manes sits at his desk at Brown Funeral Home. After a short retirement, Manes is returning to the mortuary business.
By: Duay O'Neil
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
04-18-2007
NEWPORT-Charlie Manes is back in town, this time as the co-owner of Brown Funeral Home.
After leaving Manes Funeral Home on August 11, 2004, Manes spent a short time out of the mortuary business, before returning to work for Alderwood Corporation, which owned Brown Funeral Home at the time. During this period, Manes worked for the corporation at Newport's Brown Funeral Home, as well as at mortuaries in Sevierville, Bulls Gap, and Morristown. Retiring once again, this time in 2005, Manes devoted his time to working on the restoration of antique cars.
"Then Alderwood was sold to Service Corporation, a national concern," Manes said, " and they began selling some of their smaller funeral homes." Meanwhile, Manes' friend of half a century, Buddy Mayes, former owner of Mayes Mortuary in Morristown, was also interested in once again becoming the owner of a private, independently operated funeral home.
Mayes had worked for Alderwood as a regional vice-president. The two friends then purchased Brown Funeral Home.
"We have no plans to change Brown Funeral Home's name," Manes said. "It has been a part of the local scene since 1930 and is an institution." Brown Funeral Home, according to the February 7, 1930 issue of The Newport Plain Talk, was formed by a group of local businessmen: Tip Brown, O. H. Fancher, J. C. Clevenger, Mack Clevenger, W. L. Lovell, George R. Shepherd, J. W. Kyker, W. C. Sams, H. M. Padgett, and Jim Hawk.
Brown had recently "finished a course in embalming in Nashville," according to the article.
The business partners leased the former home of Esquire Oscar O'Neil on Main Street, at the time owned by W. C. Cureton. According to the article, this structure was to be "used as offices for the company and also as a funeral home. "
A large garage was erected in the rear of the building to house the firm's ambulance and other automobiles. The business began with a capital stock of $7500 and opened in March of that year.
Over the years, Brown Funeral Home expanded several times, but the original structure remains and houses the company's business offices and two small receiving rooms.
Among the additions over the years was a large chapel built on the east side of the building.
Manes, a Bulls Gap native, came to work for Brown Funeral Home originally on February 14, 1961.
"Everett Roberts, longtime associate at Brown's, had suffered a heart attack," Manes said, "and Mrs. Cora Brown, Tip's widow, called me and asked me if I would consider coming over here. I think a salesman had recommended me to her." Manes came to Newport for an interview and went home to consider the offer. "My Aunt Imogene had married M. P. Blazer, a Parrottsville native," Manes recalled. "Prior to her marriage, she had dated Everett Roberts while she was a nurse at Nabor's Clinic in Morristown. When she found out that I would be working with Everett, she encouraged me to take the job."
"I came over for a couple of weeks," Manes continued. "After I had been in Newport a week, I knew I didn't want to leave Cocke County." That June, Manes married Marjorie Beck, and the young couple lived in an apartment in back of the funeral home for several years. While living there, the couple had two sons, Jeff and Eric.
"In 1969, we bought the home of A. A. and Lola Cates on Broadway, across from ConAgra," Manes added.
Manes remained with Brown Funeral Home until 1973. In June of that year, Manes Funeral Home opened across the street.
"Holder Funeral Home, operated by the late John Holder, Sr., had been located in a building which stood on the corner of Baer Avenue and Main Street," Manes said. "When Mr. Holder retired, he sold that business to Jerry Griffey, who, in turn, sold it to Everett Roberts and Cora Brown in 1966. Jerry then went to Knoxville where he continues to work today."
Marjorie (Beck) Manes, known as Marj, died in October of 1998 after a valiant battle against cancer.
On July 5, 2002, Manes married the former Marilyn Smith, daughter of the late Eual and Cleo (Bell) Smith.
Special family members include four Manes grandchildren - Ian, 16; Kelli, 14; Bo, 8; and Beck, 2. Two of Marilyn's great-nephews, Eli and Owen, "are just like grandchildren," added Manes.
A fourth Manes grandchild, Chuck, died at age 6. Manes followed an older brother, Bill, into the mortuary business. "Our dad, Bruce, was a railroad man," Manes said, "and our mother was Flo Couch. She was the great-granddaughter of C. H. Haun, one of the infamous 'bridgeburners' during the Civil War."
Bill Manes went to work at Stewart Funeral Home, and when Charlie was 14, he started working there, too, "doing everything from putting up tents to hauling flowers to washing cars."
"I actually started working there as an employee on Christmas Day in 1955, when I was 15," he continued.
Manes recalled that during that period most funerals were held in churches, rather than in funeral home chapels. "We also ran the ambulance service, too," he said.
After finishing high school, Manes worked during the summers and saved his money to enter John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, where he graduated in October of 1959. He also credits his Aunt Imogene Blazer with helping him financially through mortuary school.
"After I finished school, I returned to Bulls Gap where I worked until I came to Newport," Manes said.
Of Manes' two sons, Eric followed in his father's footsteps. He is now associated with Rawlings Funeral Home in Sevierville.
Currently Manes and his staff look forward to serving their community. "We have some long range plans for the building," he said. "We will continue to give service to our community to families during a very difficult time in their lives."
In addition to Manes, Brown Funeral Home employees include Melodye Hetter, office manager, and Marilyn Manes, receptionist.
"John Bugg has been with Brown Funeral Home for 24 years," said Manes, "and we also have Larry Holt."
The newest employee is Nathan Manning, who oversees the firm's pre-need insurance program.
Brown Funeral Home will host this month's Cocke County Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours this Thursday, April 19, at 5:30 p.m. "We look forward to seeing you there," Manes concluded.
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(Age ~ 57 years)