John Bretson Mann

John Bretson Mann of Athens, Georgia, died Jan. 11, 2025, after a brief illness. He was 84.

John was born on Oct. 5, 1940, at the family farm in Neman, Alabama. Many of John’s friends and even his family knew him as “Jon,” a self-styled spelling that he never legally changed. He was the 10th of 11 surviving children of Bela Russell Mann and Susie Louenza Holman and was named by his eldest brother, who was a fan of the writer Bret Harte. John’s birth certificate read “Baby Boy” Mann for the first 12 years of his life, changing to “John Bretson” when necessary for Little League.

John graduated from Tallassee High School, where he played trumpet and excelled at basketball. He attended Birmingham Southern College for a year then transferred to Troy University (then known as Troy State), where he earned a bachelor’s degree. At Troy, he took up tennis and played on the college’s team—the start of an enduring love for the sport.

After graduating, he taught school in Belle Glade, Florida, before moving to Montgomery, Alabama, where he taught tennis lessons and served as tennis pro for many years at Arrowhead Country Club. The four major tennis tournaments were some of his favorite events; at one Wimbledon watching party, he installed a TV in the bathroom so no one would miss a single point.

John was an Auburn University fan (War Eagle!) to the delight of some relatives and the chagrin of others. (The family is somewhat split, and Iron Bowl watching parties could get a little tense.) He preferred the Tigers but enjoyed watching almost any sport—a habit that lasted into his later years. After moving to Athens, Georgia, in 2019, he added the Georgia Bulldogs to his list of favorite teams.

Family was important to John, and he always looked forward to the annual Mann family reunion held around the 4th of July. He enjoyed the food, the fellowship, singing the traditional songs and doing the bunny hop. It was often followed the next morning with an informal watch party for the Wimbledon final, with lots of armchair commentary before everyone headed home.

In recent years, John suffered from dementia and short-term memory loss. The old days were still vivid, though—he never forgot them, or lost his sense of humor. He spent the last year and a half at Haven Memory Care, where he was known for walking laps around the building and his large collection of hats (the more colorful, the better).

John is predeceased by his parents as well as brothers, Rolland, Fred, Dean, Lindy, Larry, Billy and Don and sisters, Sue and Martha. He is survived by daughters, Allyson Mann and Ashley Bryant (David); grandchildren, Aaron, Alice, Lindley and Sydney; brother, Tommy Mann (Pat); and dozens of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Jeffcoat Funeral Home in Tallassee, Alabama. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., and the service will follow at 11. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery, Tallassee, in the Mann family plot. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the USTA Foundation or a charity of your choice.