Obituary of Manonia Martin Snell

Mrs. Wilfred Manonia Martin Snell, a resident of the Skipperville Community of Dale County, passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at her home after a long illness. She was seventy-nine years old. Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Friday, January 11, 2019, in Skipperville United Methodist Church with Reverend Bradley Chamblee and Reverend Freddie McCain officiating. Interment will follow in Skipperville Community Cemetery, Holman Funeral Home and Cremations of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends in the sanctuary of Skipperville United Methodist Church Thursday evening from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. and also Friday from 1:00 P.M. until service time. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Skipperville United Methodist Church, C/O Mrs. Mary Payne, 3119 County road 64, Skipperville, Alabama 36374. Manonia was born on May 27, 1939. Shortly after graduating from high school, Manonia married Jessie Thomas Snell. They were married sixty-one years until her death. She and Jessie operated a grocery store in addition to the United States Post Office in Skipperville for several years. During this time Manonia served as postal clerk and assistant postmaster. In 1974, after being out of high school for more than seventeen years, Manonia enrolled in college. She graduated with undergraduate and graduate degrees from Troy University, Troy, Alabama. She began her teaching career at George W. Long High School in Skipperville. After teaching for twenty-three years she retired in 2001. Manonia had a passion for her students. She not only wanted to educate but also to motivate her students to have a desire for learning. After retiring Manonia tutored students who needed extra help. In 2001 Manonia was named Walmart Teacher of the Year after being nominated by her students. Also, she was honored by WSFA – Country Road 12 as Teacher of the Month. Manonia’s interest in family history and genealogy began early in her life. For more than forty-five years she collected, recorded, and preserved local history. She served as President of the Dale County Genealogical and Historical Society for several years and Chairperson of the Dale County Genealogical and Historical Society Cemetery Survey Committee. She is the author of four published works: MaMa Country, a collection of family genealogy and history of Beat 13 in Dale County Alabama; The Lengthening Shadow: A History of Skipperville United Methodist Church; This Cloud of Witnesses: A History of New Hope Baptist Church, Bertha, Alabama; and Cemeteries of Dale County. Manonia was an active member of Skipperville United Methodist Church most of her life. She loved God and her church. She was the church historian and through the years she taught Sunday School, directed the church choir, served on various committees and helped in many other ways when called upon. Manonia had a beautiful voice and she sang at many weddings and funerals. The family acknowledges deep appreciation for the love and care given to Manonia by Nancy Jones, April Jones, Marilyn Gray, Dorothy Gray, Latriceya Knight, Michelle Greenwood, and the staff and administration of Community Hospice of Dale Medical Center with special thanks to Jennifer Simmons and Kathy Johnson. Manonia was preceded in death by her mother, Wilfred Grantham Martin; her father, J. D. Martin, and her step-mother, Erma Martin. Manonia is survived by her husband, Jessie Thomas Snell; her sisters, Ann Galloway (Lamar) and Nancy Gast (Douglas), a host of nieces and nephews, her church family and many friends. Serving as pallbearers will be Lamar Galloway, Douglas Gast, Orin Galloway, Don Snell, Danny Enfinger, and Ashley Childers.