Macon, Mississippi, native Marcia M. Manning-King has a reputable career in finance, including more than two decades with BankFirst Financial Services. Her professional journey is characterized by a steady progression through roles of increasing responsibility, culminating in her 2025 promotion to director of agriculture lending and first vice president.
Among her duties, Ms. Manning-King manages an active lending portfolio and oversees a $72 million branch portfolio. She coordinates complex loan processes by collaborating with attorneys, appraisers, and state agencies. Further, Ms. Manning-King organizes and tracks a pipeline of more than 40 active loans, proactively ordering appraisals and title work to prevent delays and avoid past-due renewals. She diligently maintains a positive relationship with customers through regular appreciation and check-in calls as well as farm visits.
Though she has experienced great success, Ms. Manning-King has had to overcome hardships and challenges along the way. Her path was shaped by a tragic accident in her youth that left her father disabled — an experience that left her with additional family responsibilities but instilled resilience and a strong work ethic. Driven by those traits, she has become recognized as an expert in Farm Service Agency guaranteed loans. Her approach is rooted in the community banking model, supporting local customers through dozens of phone calls and in-person meetings daily, as well as regular communication with Farm Service Agency representatives, state loan managers, local agents, and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices. She has built trust and strong relationships across Mississippi and Alabama, showcasing her ability to navigate community dynamics by coordinating with churches and other groups to support clients with nontraditional financial challenges.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Manning-King was a branch manager and vice president of commercial lending at BankFirst Financial Services for more than 20 years. During this period, she led a team of nearly 20 employees and played a key role in underwriting loans and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Ms. Manning-King also devoted time during these formative years to building her expertise in lending to agricultural clients — a direction that felt natural due to her upbringing and deep connection to farming. Her skill in structuring complex agricultural loans contributed significantly to the bank’s reputation for supporting regional industries such as catfish farming, poultry production, and cattle operations.
Ms. Manning-King’s entry into banking occurred when she returned to her hometown of Macon as a single mother seeking stability for her son. After two years in the finance sector, she joined BankFirst Financial Services as a switchboard operator before quickly advancing due to her financial acumen, gaining a comprehensive foundation in the bank’s operations that would prove essential for her subsequent leadership positions.
Although Ms. Manning-King ranked among the top eight students in her high school class and received multiple scholarships, she prioritized supporting her family over pursuing formal higher education. She later developed her proficiency in finance and agriculture through practical experience. Ms. Manning-King attributes her achievements to her grit and an unwavering commitment to family values, which she learned from her mother and grandmother. She is known for balancing professional achievement with personal sacrifice — a duality she acknowledges as both challenging and rewarding.
Throughout her career, Ms. Manning-King has embraced pursued opportunities for professional development as an active member of industry organizations, including Mississippi Women for Agriculture. She regularly participates in conventions for young farmers organized by the Farm Bureau, sharing her knowledge with aspiring agricultural professionals. Ms. Manning-King has also taken on extensive civic involvement, including donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, volunteering as a wedding coordinator for local families, and serving on the Central Academy school board for seven years. As secretary and treasurer for the Rotary Club of Macon, she has contributed her leadership skills to community initiatives, including food drives and fundraising events such as an annual golf tournament benefiting Mississippi Children’s Hospital.
Outside of her professional commitments, Ms. Manning-King enjoys home construction projects, interior decorating, and do-it-yourself activities that reflect her creative interests. Alongside her husband and son, she manages the family farm, a property that once operated as a dairy farm but is now leased for cattle and crops.
In her future, Ms. Manning-King envisions gradually stepping back from full-time responsibilities at BankFirst Financial Services to focus on life as a grandmother while remaining engaged with the bank on a part-time basis or through mentorship roles for younger colleagues within the industry. She hopes to partner with a close friend on a business venture while continuing to serve community members in need of financial guidance. Regardless of how far her career has progressed, Ms. Manning-King remains dedicated to upholding a legacy of community service and helping others.