Willie Mann

Willie Arthur Mann was born on June 23, 1949 to Marie Mann in Jackson, Georgia. He departed this life on December 28, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska. Willie attended the Georgia Public School System.

At the age of 17, Willie joined the Job Corp and relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska. There he met four (4) friends who became life-long friends. One of the friends was from Omaha and when he went home on weekends, he invited his new friends to go home with him. While visiting one weekend in Omaha, Willie met his future wife Vera who was a sister of one of his new friends. After the Job Corps permanently closed in Lincoln, the friends decided to move to Omaha and became roommates.

Willie worked a few temporary jobs before finding a permanent position with the City of Omaha Street Department. He worked for the City of Omaha for over 30 years in a variety of positions and at various locations. He retired in October of 2018. Not long after retiring, he became ill and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After a year or so of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he was told his cancer was in remission. Praise God!!!

Willie was known for his sense of style. He was always color-coordinated from head to toe, he was rarely seen without a cap or hat on his head. His beard and mustache were always neatly trimmed. He enjoyed grilling delicious food for family and friends and would grill many times over the summer, fall and on holidays. He enjoyed hanging out on 31st & Miami Street where his mother-in-law lived and where many of his friends would congregate. The house became affectionately called “The Hill.” Willie spent many days sitting with family and friends up on “The Hill.” He will be dearly missed by everyone who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his mother and stepfather Marie Mann Watts and David Watts, brother Robert Louis Watts, sister and brother‑in‑law, Bessie and Asa Ingram, sister Shirley Mann, and granddaughter, Kiara Phillip.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years Vera Mann, four (4) daughters: Terri Buford, Kelli Phillip, Shalon Buffum and Shantel Thompson; one son William Patterson; one step-daughter Felisa (Phil) Matthews of Omaha, NE, four (4) brothers: Anthony Mann and Calvin Mann of Atlanta, GA, Roy (Carolyn) Mann of Lawrenceville, GA, Ivan (Brenda) Mann and William Mann of Riverdale, GA; one sister Annie Nimes of Atlanta, GA; five (5) brothers‑in‑law, James Reese, Edgar Phillip, Jr., John Lee Phillip and Donald Phillip of Omaha, NE, Dennis (Robin) Phillip of Phoenix, AZ. Five (5) sisters‑in‑law: Doris Windham and Etta Brown of Lansing, MI, Emma Richard and Janice (John) Butler of Omaha, NE, and Ann Rice of O’Fallon, IL, ten (10) grandchildren, nineteen (19) great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.