Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

September 9, 2021

GREENVILLE, SC – Alison Hope Manner, 31, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 9, 2021, in Greenville, SC with her loving mother and sister at her bedside. 

Alison was born in Columbia, SC on March 12, 1990, and spent the majority of her life in Spartanburg, where she was reared by her mother, Sherie and stepfather, Daniel Harmon, who together faithfully attended Skylyn Drive Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church for years with her older sister, Jessica.

Alison graduated from Spartanburg High School in 2008 and pursued her postsecondary degree at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, but only after scaring her mother to death by briefly enrolling at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a decision that Sherie supported as only a mother could through clinched teeth. While at Winthrop, Alison found a way to merge academic pursuits with her love of good food.  She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in human nutrition and completed Winthrop’s Dietetic Internship Certificate program.

While in college, Alison’s faith blossomed. She was active in Campus Crusade for Christ and spent the summer of 2011 on a mission trip to Santa Cruz, CA, where she helped to spread the gospel and share the love of Christ—in part, by preparing meals for a large team of her fellow college students who were also on the trip.

After graduating from Winthrop, Alison worked as a registered dietician at Healthcare Services Group for several years before deciding to apply her professional training in a different way, as a restaurateur. She created and co-founded, Anchor Raw Bar, The German Biergarten and Humble Pie Pizza in Simpsonville, SC.  As a naturally friendly, warm and bright person, owning and managing these restaurants let Alison display her passion for food, her gift of hospitality and her love of people and good conversation.  In a testament to her work ethic and focus, she pursued these entrepreneurial ventures while also being employed as the controller of a local construction firm, Kodiak Construction, to the present.

Throughout her life, Alison embodied Proverbs 12:10a, “car[ing] for the needs of [her] animals,” namely, all of the dogs she came into contact with Gizmo, Dottie, Caramel, Sam, Lexie, Sophie and Pixel, like the rest of us, were blessed to know her. The luckiest dog of all was Boone, a rescue, who was her special companion and friend until her passing.  At its core, Alison’s care for rescue animals was evidence of her kind and gentle spirit.

Alison is survived by her mother, Sherie Banks and her husband, Robert of Lincolnton, NC; her sister, Jessica Manner and her husband, Banks Wilson and their children, Hazel Rose and Dash of Charlotte, NC; her stepsister, Courtney Kimball and her husband, David and their children, Adelaide, Coleman, Harper, Virginia and Piper of Rock Hill, SC.  She is also survived by her father, Paul Alan Manner, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; her fiancé, Taft Wirthlin, of Greenville, SC and her stepbrother, Bailey Banks of Kennesaw, GA.  Alison was preceded in death by her stepfather, Daniel Harmon.  Alison loved her nieces and nephews dearly, and they loved and will miss her as well.  All those who knew her will deeply mourn her loss.

A funeral service to celebrate Alison’s life will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, 9401 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28273.  A reception will follow the service in the Family Life Center at the church.   The committal service will be held at 11:00 AM on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Spartanburg, SC.

The family requests memorials be offered on behalf of Alison to Campus Crusade for Christ,  P.O. Box 628222, Orlando, FL 32862 or online at https://give.cru.org or the Greenville Humane Society, 305 Airport Road, Greenville, SC 29607 or online at www.greenvillehumane.com.

Condolences may be emailed to: AlisonMannerMemorials@gmail.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.