Rick an accomplished musician played piano, organ and harp. Rick has been the organist and choir director for many churches in South Florida and Georgia. Rick has been the organist and choir director at the First Methodist Church in Thomaston, Georgia.
Rick worked for Colonial House of Flowers and Boat Blossoms in Hollywood, Florida, which supplied and designed flowers for Holland America Cruise Lines. Rick was able to travel to Canada for several months a year designing the flowers for the cruise lines.
Eventually Rick left Colonial House and purchased All Occasion Florist in Davie Florida. He subsequently expanded and opened a second shop in Fort Lauderdale.
Rick also began to work with Publix Supermarkets, where he trained florist for a pilot project of opening floral departments in their stores. The successfulness of this program eventually led to the opening of florist in all of Publix markets. It was Rick that they turned to at its inception and who should be credited with the success of this venture.
Rick was President of Broward County Florist Association for several years.
Rick and his partner Ivan Smith closed the flower shops and began a new venture with All Occasions, a company that specialized in parties, weddings and special events. All Occasions was located in Boynton Beach, Florida. The Boca Raton Resort and Club worked closely with Rick and Ivan. Eventually the resort offered to purchase All Occasions as they wanted to set up their own “in house” business. The hotel renamed the brand “Boca by Design” and Rick became the Director of Floral Services. It is said that Boca by Design was conceived at Rick’s kitchen table whilst Ivan cooked dinner.
Rick found that the Render Plantation was for sale in Greenville, GA. Rick fell in love with the house and decided that he would move to Greenville, GA and begin to restore the plantation and open a Bed and Breakfast. After relocating to Greenville, Rick became the organist and choir director for the First Methodist Church in Thomaston.
Rick became the sole caregiver for his father who lived with him for many years.
Rick began teaching school for Meriwether School District and later for Flint River Academy. At Flint River, Rick taught music and drama. Rick’s students always placed high in many of the Statewide competitions. Rick also taught private piano lessons to students in his home.
Rick taught himself to play the concert harp. He also taught and conducted several bell choirs.
Rick loved to go to Americus where he started playing the piano at the Historic Windsor Hotel. This began when he played happy birthday on the hotel piano as an impromptu performance. The hotel manager told Rick that he was welcomed to play anytime. Rick would play on the weekends and the hotel would pay for his dinner and accommodations. He was excited that President Carter was able to hear him play while the President and first lady visited the hotel.
Rick was a lifelong learner. He loved learning about history, music and art. Recently Rick completed his third Master’s degree in Fine Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Rick then enrolled in a doctoral program which he unfortunately was not able to complete due to his illness. Rick was looking forward to spending the summer in Paris as part of the curriculum.
Rick loved the University of Kentucky and rarely missed a game. He even named one of his miniature horses REBEL.
Rick served on the Board of Directors of the President Theatre in Manchester, Georgia.
Rick also loved Art and Antiques. He had a dealership at several locations including a booth at High Cotton in Woodbury. His home was always decorated with his fine eye for design.
Rick also loved Christmas. He loved the music and all the ceremony. He had 14 fully decorated Christmas trees in his home, which he kept up year-round.
Rick also loved animals. He had chickens, goats, dogs and miniature horses. At one point he had over 20 basset hounds and miniature horse named Eddie. There was a report of a hurricane while he was in Florida with Eddie. Rick decided that the horse would be safer in the house, and so he put Eddie in the shower stall in the house so that he would be safe should the hurricane hit. Rick most recently adopted an Old English Sheepdog named Rufus. Rufus was deaf and somewhat blind, but Rick decided he needed a companion. He also had several chickens named after American First Ladies.
Always a sense of humor.
Memorial services for Rick will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2022, at 2:00 pm, at The Thomaston First United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rick McManus Fund C/O Thomaston First United Methodist Church, 132 Cherokee Rd., Thomaston GA 30286.
Coggins Funeral Home
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