Mobile City Council President, Levon Manzie died last night after a long battle with an illness. Mayor Sandy Stimpson called Manzie his friend and colleague. He shared memories of his last conversation with the councilman.
"We were encouraging each other. Actually, I had an opportunity to pray for him and we had an opportunity to tell each other how we felt about each other," Mayor Stimpson said.
Those who knew the district 2 councilman said he was determined to persevere through life even after doctors diagnosed him with kidney failure at the age of 14, which resulted in two transplants.
In 2008, Manzie became the youngest person ever elected to Mobile County School Board. While serving on the board, he led the passage of a $100 million dollar construction bond for school renovations.
MCPSS released this statement to NBC15 News,
Dr. Reginald Crenshaw, president of the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners, ran his first election for a seat on the school board the same year as Levon Manzie, in 2008. Crenshaw said Manzie was a good friend and that they spoke regularly.
“We campaigned on some of the same principles, and we campaigned against two strong leaders in the community,” Crenshaw said. “I told him that his campaign was run much better than mine.”
“One of the things we were both really proud of was the funds that we were able to spend in our two districts for renovations and for the construction of new buildings and new schools. Our districts had the greatest needs, and we were able to secure funding to meet those needs,” Crenshaw said.
During Manzie’s tenure on the school board, Mobile County Public Schools took out a $100 million construction bond to fund projects throughout the county. In Manzie’s district, major renovations were completed at B.C. Rain High School, Morningside Elementary and Maryvale Elementary. Manzie was instrumental in the board’s allocation of $4 million for exterior renovations at the Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies, which opened in August. And he worked with state legislators to secure funding to repair Murphy High School, which was damaged during a 2012 tornado.
“Levon Manzie is going to be greatly missed by the people in our community. What he did for schools in his district will last a lifetime,” Crenshaw said. “He was a friend to everyone.”
In 2013, Manzie decided to make a run for the Mobile City Council District 2. It was a childhood dream for the Murphy High School and Troy Alum to serve his community. Three weeks ago, Manzie and Stimpson held a news conference to announce renovations to Texas Street. A project Manzie fought hard to get done and one of his proudest moments as a councilman.
Mobile Councilwoman Bess Rich sent this statement to NBC15,
“I’ve known Levon since he served on the Youth Council for the City of Mobile. His interest, knowledge and understanding of the needs of his constituents was paramount in his representation as a councilperson. Levon made a huge difference and touched numerous people in his lifetime. He will be long remembered and greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of working with him and knowing him. May his memory be for a blessing.”
Manzie was a fourth-generation pastor. He was a preacher at the Saint Joseph Missionary Baptist Church on Elba Avenue.
No word yet on any memorials or funeral arrangements for the late councilman. The entire NBC15 News Family sent condolence to the family and friends of Councilman Levon Manzie.