Brian Christopher Mance was born October 2, 1961 in Clayton, Georgia to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Eugene and Mary Evelyn Owens Mance. He died on April 29, 2012 at the age of 50. He grew up in Clayton and graduated high school from Rabun County High. He went on to receive his bachelor's degree in History from Piedmont College. Upon receiving his bachelor's degree at Piedmont, Chris became a history teacher, Assistant football, Head baseball, and golf coach and later Head boys basketball coach at Rabun County high school. While coaching at Rabun County he received his Masters of Education at Clemson University and married Phyllis Farris Mance. He later became Assistant Principal at Elbert County High school. While coaching at Elbert County he received his Education Specialist degree, Ed.S., at Clemson University. Chris was affiliated with the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, Georgia High School Region 8AAA Secretary, Professional Association of Georgia Educators and National Association of Secondary Principals Association.
In addition to teaching and leading for over twenty-eight years, he also received many awards such as, Georgia/Tennessee All-Star Basketball Coach 1998 & 1999, "I Dare You" Principal's Award and until recently held the most wins in boys' basketball at Rabun County High school. In 2009, Chris became principal of Gainesville High School. During his leadership at Gainesville High, the school received the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award and the National Youth at Risk award. Chris was also the Sunday School Superintendant at the Clayton First United Methodist Church where he served in that position for 25 years.
Chris leaves behind his beloved wife, Phyllis and two sons, Brian Mance Jr., and Farris Mance of Gainesville, Ga., his mother and father, Walter and Mary Mance, sisters, Cherryl Mance Long (Farris Long) of Clayton, Ga., Shelia Mance Wright (Tracy Wright) of Martin, Ga., mother-in-law, Bertha Farris of Gainesville, Ga., and father-in-law, James Rapier Farris of Montgomery, Al., sister-in-law, Deborah Taylor of Madison, WI., brother-in-law, Keith Conley of Morganton, NC., and two close friends very much like brothers, Mark Beck and Ferron Welch of Clayton, Ga. In addition to his immediate family, he also leaves behind a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of students and colleagues.
The life Chris led as a dedicated husband, father, son, brother, coach and principal, is a witness and testimony that you can do great things with hard work, integrity, family support and the love of Christ in your heart.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, 2012in the Gainesville High School Gymnasium. Rev. Calvin Haney and Dr. Bill Coates will officiate along with tributes from former players and students. Interment will follow in the Tallulah Falls United Methodist Church Cemetery in Rabun County at 4:00 p.m. with Rev. James E. Turpen Sr. officiating. The family will receive friends at Gainesville High School Gymnasium on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
There will also be a memorial service held Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building located on the Rabun County High School Campus.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Chris Mance Memorial Scholarship c/o The North Georgia Community Foundation 615 F Oak Street Suite 1300 Gainesville, GA 30501
Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at www.littledavenport.com
Little & Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Highway, S.W., Gainesville, Ga. 30501 is in charge of arrangements
