A long and vital chapter in St. Clair County history and politics has closed. Paul Lawrence Manning, longtime county commissioner and commission chairman, died on August 9.
The lifelong resident of Ragland was 73 years old.
What do you do before you run for the county commission? Why, Paul Manning owned and ran a gas station, Manning Service Station. After a life-altering accident caused his paralysis, he opened Paul’s Barbecue in 1973. What a way to stay in touch and keep up with what everyday people are thinking. The community enjoyed gathering at his BBQ and joining in spirited discussions about politics.
Paul Manning joked that he opened the gas station to help mitigate the gas shortage during the Jimmy Carter administration.
The restaurant stayed open until 2014.
Paul married the love of his life, Marie Manning, in 1981. Both served the people of St. Clair County. She was superintendent of education and was later elected to the State Board of Education, where she still serves.
Paul dedicated 36 years to the residents of St. Clair County until 2022. He served as chairman of the St. Clair County Commission from 2014 to 2022.
In 1995, Paul and Marie acquired a farm in Dekalb County, which they expanded over the years, fostering friendships in the Kilpatrick Community. He could be found at The Sand Mountain Stockyard on Wednesdays and Saturdays, relishing the camaraderie of fellow attendees. Paul took pleasure in spending time on his back porch, shelling beans or offering guidance to those around him. He believed that idle hands were the devil’s workshop and lived by that principle.
Paul persevered through adversity that would have disheartened many. He was a man who loved people and was deeply loved in return. His legacy will endure through his family.
Watch a video of Life of Paul Manning here.
One of the many legacies Manning leaves is the UAB-St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital in Pell City. Stan Bateman, county commission chairman, says that Manning is a large part of the reason the hospital is perhaps the outstanding rural hospital in Alabama. It also took a year or so longer to gain approval due to Manning’s questions, objections and proposals.
"Paul questioned the location, the design, the way it was being done. We have a better hospital because of Paul," he explained.
Friends and family said goodbye to Paul Manning with a visitation on August 11 and a funeral service on August 12, 2025.
“We’ve seen Franklin Roosevelt serve as President of the United States from a wheelchair. We are seeing Greg Abbott serve as governor of Texas from a wheelchair. Now, we’ve seen Paul Manning serve as county commissioner and commission chairman from a wheelchair. It is a life story that needs to be told.” — Jim Zeigler
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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