Harry “Big Poppa” Manker

Mr. Harry Blacknell Manker, age 87, transitioned peacefully from this life on February 5, 2026, leaving behind a legacy defined by kindness, service, faith, and unwavering devotion to his family and community.

He was born on September 18, 1938, to the late Harriet Manker of Live Oak, Florida, and the late J.B. Blacknell of South Florida. Harry BlacknellManker attended Edward Waters College and graduated from Bethune–Cookman University (formerly Bethune–Cookman College). He faithfully served for many years as a steward at Allen AME Church in Sanford, FL.

After graduating from college, he began teaching in Titusville, FL. Eventually, he migrated to New York and then to Connecticut, where he began a distinguished tenure in education—first shaping young minds in the elementary classroom with patience, skill, and quiet excellence. He later dedicated his life to education as a Special Education Teacher for the Hartford Public School District and later within the Washington, D.C., Charter School System. He also supported adult learners across Connecticut pursuing GED completion and workforce readiness.

After returning to Florida, he worked in early childhood and licensed childcare programs in Sanford and Seminole County. He also served as a long-term substitute in local elementary schools. A proud community servant, he served on several boards, including Top Kids Christian Academy & Preschool, and was deeply rooted in “the Village.” He was a distinguished member of the Prince Hall Masonic Organization.