In Memory of Isaac Manley

Dr. Isaac V. Manley

Dr. Isaac V. Manly was an inspiration and highly valued member of the Triangle Association for the Science of Creation (TASC). Dr. Manly confessed that he had been influenced by his medical school training in believing that evolution theory was best explained by science. Dr. Manly (Ike, as we affectionately called him) soon became involved in Bible studies, and the more he read the Word the more he realized, like many others of us in the Creation movement, that evolution was not tenable from a scientific or Biblical view. Especially as a physician he clearly saw the uniqueness of the human body and that these earthly bodies could not have happened by accident. He saw that we were truly made in the image of our creator. Ike was always a delight to be with. He had such a warm personality and gentle spirit. He wrote two books, the first book, God Made, was his effort to express how he had made a journey from belief in evolution to a strong belief in Creation. I, along with many others, were privileged to review Dr. Manly’s manuscript and give him suggestions. He was always very receptive, never offended by any comments made about his writing. I was especially delighted to have Dr. Manly ask me to write the forward to his book. That book gave many readers a straight forward, easy to read explanation of many different aspects of the Creation point of view. He was generous in giving TASC much of the proceeds of that book for furthering the cause of Creation Science. I was also privileged to travel to Fayetteville, North Carolina where Dr. Manly and I were guest speakers at the Church of the Open Door (pastor, Dr. Harry Adams). Dr. Manly had prepared an excellent talk on the evidences for man being a unique design of the Creator and the many problems with the evolution explanation. What a delight to have several hours riding in a car with a man of such stature.

Dr. Manly had not been part of our active TASC group for several years because of failing health, but we rmembered him often. Anyone who knew Dr. Manly could never forget that they had been in the presence of a remarkable man. He will truly be missed by those of us who knew him in TASC. I know he also touched many lives in his church and in Bible studies, and he also helped many people with his medical gifts. He spoke so affectionately of his family. His wife Peggy came to several of our meetings, and she is a wonderful person also.

Dr. Isaac V. Manly died on August 23 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1923 to Mr. and Mrs. James Hollowell Manly. After graduating from Goldsboro High School in 1940, he received his BS in medicine from the University of North Carolina in 1943 where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and the Whitehead Society at the UNC Medical School. In 1946, Dr. Manly received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He completed his internship in 1947. A member of the Aesculapias Club of Boston, MA, he served his country as a Lieutenant (jg.) in the United States Navy from 1946 until 1949 at the Naval Base in New Haven, CT. After completing his military service, Dr. Manly did a residency in general surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital from 1949-1952. He completed a second residency in thoracic surgery at UNC Memorial Hospital in 1953 and was an instructor in surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1954 to 1965. Dr. Manly began his private surgical practice in Raleigh in 1954. As a physician, Dr. Manly was a leader and active member of his community. He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Medical Association as well as various medical groups and societies, including the Nathan Womack Surgical Society, the Southern Thoracic Medical Association and the Christian Medical Foundation. Prior to his retirement in 1993, he was on the attending medical staff of Rex Hospital and Raleigh Community Hospital. During his many years at Rex Hospital, he served as a leader in many areas including: Chief of the Department of Surgery, President of the Medical Staff, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Executive Committee Representative to the Board of Trustees. Dr. Manly served the University of North Carolina Medical School as President of the Alumni Association and was Chairman of the Alumni Visitors Committee. In addition, he was a past President of the Raleigh Surgical Associates. Dr. Manly and his wife, Peggy, were active members of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. He served on the vestry as well as various other positions in the life of the parish. He was a member of the Stewardship Commission for the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina from 1985 to 1989 and was Chairman of the Faith and Morals Committee in 1992. Together they served as members of the Episcopal Diocese’s Faith Alive Team for spiritual renewal. Dr. Manly was a life-long student and teacher of the Bible. After his retirement, he joined his wife Peggy in leading Cornerstone Bible Study, which she started in the late 1970s at St. Michael’s Church. Dr. Manly considered his greatest achievement to be the author of God Made, an examination of God’s creation for the scientific community. A second book, Slaying the Dragon of Evolution, formatted the material for individual or group study. He was an active member of Ken Ham’s Creation Institute and a supporter of Chuck Colson’s Prison Ministry. Dr. Manly was an avid sportsman and enjoyed playing golf and tennis as well as hunting with his son, Sawyer. He enjoyed vacationing with his family and friends at Atlantic Beach. Inspired by his father, he had a life-long love of gardening. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Peggy Sawyer Manly, and his children, Katherine Manly Bell and her husband, Jeffrey Graham Bell of Haverford, Pennsylvania, James Sawyer Manly and his wife, Susan Wenger Manly of Holly Springs, Elizabeth Fern Jernigan and her husband, Leonard Thell Jernigan, Jr. of Raleigh, Margaret Manly Graddy and her husband, Joseph MacDonald Graddy of Versailles, Kentucky. His nine grandchildren are: Isaac Manly Graddy and his wife, Lindsey Hollenkamp, William Lee Graddy III, Shawn Christopher McNickle, Mathew Eric McNickle and his wife, Erika Bullard, Elizabeth Manly Jernigan, Margaret Hayes Jernigan, Jeffrey Sawyer Bell, James Graham Bell, and Whitney Bell Corbett and her husband, Brad of Chapel Hill.