Alert Top Story Spotlight Topical ‘A servant’s heart’: Monroe field named after John Mann Jr. Justin Faulconer Sep 20, 2026 Sep 20, 2026 0 Sarah Hunt and Amy Wray, daughters of John Henry Mann Jr. stand next to the sign memorializing the Monroe ballfield in their dad's honor on Sept. 14. Photo by Justin Faulconer, New Era-Progress Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Justin Faulconer Two words describe the late John Henry Mann, Jr. – loyal and dedicated, his longtime friend Ronnie Adams says.kAm|2??[ 2 =:76=@?8 p>96CDE r@F?EJ C6D:56?E H9@ H2D 566A=J :?G@=G65 :? J@FE9 DA@CED :? E96 4@F?EJ 7@C >F49 @7 9:D =:76[ 5:65 :? pAC:= 2E 286 f_] p? F>A:C6[ 4@249[ 5C:G:?8 :?DECF4E@C 2?5 >6>36C @7 E96 4@F?EJ’D !2C<D 2?5 #64C62E:@? p5G:D@CJ q@2C5[ |2??’D =:76 H2D >2C<65 3J 2 566A 2?5 23:5:?8 4@>>:E>6?E E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 9:D 72>:=J 2?5 7C:6?5D]k^Am John Mann Jr. kAm%92E 565:42E:@? 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Glass Discover the newest restaurants that launched in 2026 ‘A servant’s heart’: Monroe field named after John Mann Jr. Town halls begin on Bedford school closure options 3 takeaways from Virginia Tech football's win at Maryland kAm|2?? 2=D@ D6CG65 2D 2? F>A:C6 7@C |25:D@? w6:89ED s:I:6 *@FE9 32D632== 2?5 DEC:G65 E@ E6249 E96 G2=F6D @7 E62>H@C<[ C6DA64E 2?5 A6CD6G6C2?46[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 9:D @3:EF2CJ]k^Am Ronnie Adams speaks about the life of his longtime friend, John Mann Jr., at the dedication of the Monroe ball field in Mann's honor on Sept. 14. Photo by Justin Faulconer, New Era-Progress kAm$2C2 {F r9C:DE:2?[ E96 4@F?EJ’D 7@C>6C A2C<D 2?5 C64C62E:@? 5:C64E@C[ D2:5 |2?? 4@?EC:3FE65 :>>6?D6=J E@ 6?92?4:?8 E96 BF2=:EJ @7 =:76 @7 4@F?EJ C6D:56?ED @? E96 C64C62E:@? 25G:D@CJ 3@2C5]k^AmkAm“p 7:?6C[ >@C6 565:42E65[ ECFDEH@CE9J[ 92C5H@C<:?8 A6CD@? x 92G6 J6E E@ >66E[” r9C:DE:2? 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H2D 2 >6>36C[ BF@E65 q:3=6 G6CD6D 7C@> ` !6E6C[ 492AE6C c[ :? 56D4C:3:?8 |2??’D 492C24E6C :? 9@DA:E2=:EJ[ =@G6 7@C @E96CD 2?5 D6CG:46]k^Am kAm“w6 H2D ECF=J 2 D6CG2?E 2E 962CE[ D@>6@?6 H9@ 82G6 2D >F49 2D 96 A@DD:3=J 4@F=5[ 2?5 2=H2JD H2?E65 E@ 8:G6 >@C6[” q66=6C D2:5] “(6 2C6 8C2E67F= 7@C E96 H@C< E92E 96 5:5 2E @FC 49FC49] x <?@H H6VC6 2== 8C2E67F= 7@C E96 H@C< E92E 96 5:5 :? @FC 4@>>F?:EJ] p?5 E9:D :D 2 EC6>6?5@FD H2J E@ 9@?@C 9:D >6>@CJ[ 3642FD6 96 46CE2:?=J 5:5 =@G6 E9@D6 J@F?8 3@JD 2?5 8:C=D[ E9@D6 J@F?8 >6? 2?5 H@>6?] xV> 46CE2:?=J 8C2E67F= 7@C 9:D 6I2>A=6 2?5 8C2E67F= 7@C E9:D @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 9@?@C 9:D >6>@CJ]”k^AmkAm|2?? H2D 9:89=J 24E:G6 2D 2 G@=F?E66C 2E }6:893@CD w6=A:?8 }6:893@CD[ 2 |25:D@? w6:89ED ?@?AC@7:E E92E AC@G:56D >62=D 2?5 8C@46C:6D 7@C A6@A=6 :? ?665[ 2?5 2E |62=D @? (966=D]k^Am A view of the John Mann Athletic Field in Monroe on Sept. 14, 2026. 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E9@D6 7:?2= >@>6?ED[” (C2J D2:5] “p?5 E96? 9:D 6J6D]]] 4=@D65[ 2?5 96 D2H v@5[ 2?5 96 ?6G6C E@@< 9:D 6J6 @77 E96 32==] %92EVD D@>6E9:?8 E92E x H:== 2=H2JD E2<6 H:E9 >6]”k^Am kAm$2C29 wF?E D2:5 96C 525 “925 E96 36DE D62E” H2E49:?8 9:D 8:C=D 2?5 8C2?5<:5D A=2J]k^AmkAm“w6 H2D 23=6 E@ D66 2== E9C66 @7 9:D 8C2?552F89E6CD A=2J D@7E32== :? 4@==686[” wF?E D2:5] “w6VD 8@E E96 36DE D62E E@ H2E49 9:D 8C2?5323:6D A=2J 2 82>6 E92E 96 ECF=J 5@6D =@G6]”k^Am Justin Faulconer, (434) 385-5551jfaulconer@newsadvance.com 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Justin Faulconer Reporter/Editor of Amherst New-Era Progress and Nelson County Times Author email Follow Justin Faulconer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Amherst County ball field dedicated in memory of John Mann Watch Now: Related Video Midterm elections: Trump looms large over 2026 vote as Democrats eye gains US And China Discuss AI Safety Plan Ahead Of Trump-Xi Summit US And China Discuss AI Safety Plan Ahead Of Trump-Xi Summit The 10 safest cities in the United States The 10 safest cities in the United States Elon Musk predicts AI could double US GDP growth to 4% Elon Musk predicts AI could double US GDP growth to 4%
Justin Faulconer Reporter/Editor of Amherst New-Era Progress and Nelson County Times Author email Follow Justin Faulconer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
