Manwell Akers

April 8, 1941 - May 28, 2020

Manwell Akers (Sonny), 79 of Oak Park IL, on May 28 at Kindred Hospital, Northlake, IL after a short illness. Born and raised in New Orleans, LA, he practiced boxing and martial arts as a young man. After the army, he studied political science at Quincy University in IL. A longtime resident of Chicago he sang backup vocal with local pop music groups including Smokey Robinson. He helped to initiate the “Community Drug Education Project” at Kennedy-King College in 1970 with Helen Dorsey under grants from the “Drug Abuse Education Act”. He taught Black History courses there as well. He continued to counsel community youth for many years thereafter including on the north side of Chicago. He was chef at Lawry’s The Prime Rib and other restaurants in Chicago. Cooking was his life-long hobby! Manwell was a very gregarious person who loved working and talking with people in his community as well as the youth, the animals in his yard and anyone who he came in contact with. Everyone became his friend and he will be deeply missed. He is survived by his wife Jan Wessels, 2 sisters Margurite and Geraldine Akers and 2 brothers William and Paul Akers. He was preceded in death, by his parents George and Geneva Akers, 3 brothers George Jr., Albert, and Joseph and 10 sisters Yvonne, Georgia, Geneva, Shirley, Deloros, Annie, Kathrine, Marilyn, Gail, and Betty. Private Funeral and Memorial Service will be held at a later date.