Manuel Cohen

Manuel Cohen, 90, of Moncks Corner, SC, entered into eternal rest Thursday, May 8, 2025. His Funeral Service will be held at the Graveside, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, 1308 Mathis Ferry Road at 4:00 pm. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Mount Pleasant Chapel.

Manuel was born on October 6, 1934, in Hickory, North Carolina, to Harry Cohen and Tess Lederer Cohen. He attended Lenoir-Rhyne College for his freshman year, where he played collegiate basketball, and later transferred to and graduated from the University of Georgia.

Since 1960, Manuel was the proud proprietor of Barron’s Department Store in Moncks Corner, where he worked faithfully and joyfully until the week of his passing. He was a beloved figure in the community, known for his dedication, kindness, strong work ethic, generosity and wonderful stories. Manuel was known by many as "Mr. Barron," "Freddy Fourdown," and "Marion Santee" through his business endeavor as the owner of The Berkeley Independent, the local newspaper of Moncks Corner.

Manuel had many fascinating stories to tell - his billiard game played against Willy Mosconi in a pool hall in Athens, Georgia, meeting Willie Nelson, opening Daldee's gym for boxers at the Moncks Corner railroad depot and meeting Donald Trump in 1999 in NYC. He was friendly with Leon Levine, who founded Family Dollar in 1959. Leon asked Manuel back then to be his business partner in the Family Dollar business venture. Manuel was tempted to do so, but due to his busy involvement in his own family's businesses and the death of his father, he had to decline the offer. Manuel's business history began in 1941 when he was seven years old. He opened a lemonade stand with the help of some friends and sold lemonade and candy bars bought from a local wholesale distributor.

Manuel is survived by his wife, Elinor Cohen; his daughter, Kim Cohen Dye; his son, Harris Cohen; and his sister, Sara Gordon. He was the cherished grandfather of Tiffany Shankman (Elijah Shankman) and Marissa Dye, and the proud great-grandfather of Rosalie Shankman. He will be remembered with deep love and admiration by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.