Loisteen Jackson Mann

Edwards Small Mortuary Announces with our deepest sympathy the passing of Mrs. Loisteen Jackson Mann.  Loisteen entered into eternal rest on January 6, 2023.  Our condolences to the friends and family.

Loisteen Jackson Mann was born on January 4, 1945 in Fort Valley, Georgia to the late Mr. and Mrs. Sam and Lillie Mae Jackson. She attended Peach County School System and graduated from H.A. Hunt High School in 1963. Loisteen enjoyed spelling bees and challenging word games. She also was a score keeper for the basketball team. At an early age, she joined Union Grove Baptist Church in Fort Valley, Georgia where she served many secretary offices. Her fondest memory of her church upbringing was traveling the dusty backroads in an old car with her mom where they would sing church songs along the way.

After graduating from high school, Loisteen attended Fort Valley State University where she graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science in English and a minor in Library Science. Following graduation, she began her teaching career at Bryon County Schools. While teaching, in 1968 Loisteen was married on the steps of her mother’s home to Lonnie Mann Jr. As they recited their vows, he affectionally called her “Sweet” and she called him “June”. This is where her love story began. After marriage she decided to move to Washington D.C. with Lonnie for two years continuing her teaching career there. After leaving the District of Columbia in 1972, Loisteen and Lonnie moved back to Georgia. There’s no place like home! She taught for one year at Georgia School for the Deaf in Cave Springs, Georgia. She was an avid reader and enjoyed writing stories about various topics and people. After becoming deaf due to an experimental drug that treated an illness, she became a strong advocate for the deaf population focusing more on hearing impairment and special needs. Loisteen continued to thrive despite her deafness, so she started her career in 1973 at Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Clarkston, Georgia. There, she became a super organized librarian ordering many appropriate level interesting books. She encouraged the students to read at every grade and/or non graded level from preschool through high school. During the annual bookfairs at the library, there were students, parents, teachers and staff from counties all over Georgia that attended. Books, games, puzzles, and new educational technology were ordered to stimulate minds and motivate lifelong reading. Purchases excelled every year! Two years later in 1975, she furthered her education receiving a Master of Science in Deaf Education from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. But wait!

Loisteen wasn’t quite done yet; in 1983 she attended Atlanta University where she received her Master in Library Science. Loisteen’s disability didn’t stop her at all, she made the best out of it! She created a family with Lonnie by having a precious daughter, Lili Miracle. Since Lili wasn’t born deaf, she taught Lili how to answer phone calls at just the age of two years old relaying messages for her. To this union added an awesome son, Lil Lonnie, where at that very moment her motherhood was
completed.

Loisteen retired after serving 30 plus years in 2003 from the State Department of Education. She loved to travel with her husband, of 54 years now. They traveled all throughout the United States as well as traveling abroad to Paris, London, Morocco, Spain, and many other countries! She never lost her contact with her deaf students and frequently talked about many students as well as invited them to her home. She joined Crusselle Freeman Church for the Deaf where she served as the Sunday school teacher for many years. She also initiated a scholarship fund for deaf student’s education through clubs and organizations of like minded teachers (CALK). CALK represented for Charlotte, Annette, Loisteen and Kathy. There were other professionals that joined and contributed as time passed by.

When Loisteen became ill, she remained faithful to God and trusted her doctors; Dr. Spann at Emory Hospital and Dr. Carroll at WellStar Hospital. She trusted them to see her through every aspect of her struggle. She remained positive through various rounds of chemo and infusions. Through it all, she still smiled as she completed every project at her lake house in Villa Rica, Georgia. Her favorite scriptures came from Philippians “ I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me” and “ Finally brethren- whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise,  think of these things.” Philippians 4:8

Through many somber days of tender loving care and heartaches, she leaves her devoted loving husband (personal chef, gardener, masseuse and jack of all trades), Lonnie Mann Jr.; her faithful and kind- loving daughter, Lili Mann-Foster (Craig); a devoted supportive son, Lonnie Mann III (Teresa) and a loving sister, Flossie Wells all from Atlanta, GA ; two sisters- in-Law, Corrine Jackson-Atlanta, GA and Jewel Falling-Fort Valley, GA; three granddaughters Lexis Cunningham, Makayla Conway and London Mann - Atlanta, GA; one grandson Lonnie Mann IV- Atlanta, GA; two great- grandchildren Layla Williams and Landon Cunningham- Atlanta, GA; two adoptive sisters Myra Pinkett and Ernesteen Cotton-Miami, Florida; a special cousin Mary Fields-Atlanta, GA; a special nephew Anthony Wells- Atlanta, GA , Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Sisters, CALK sisters, Red Hat Sisters, Cruselle Freeman family, Atlanta Area School for the Deaf family, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Preceding in death two sisters; Doris Mae Robinson and Eva Mae Robinson, five brothers; James Jackson, Judge Varner, Mildge Varner, Samuel Jackson, & Walter Falling.