Manuel Sykes

Manuel Sykes is an American pastor and civic leader from the state of Florida.

Career Sykes attended the Luther Rice Seminary & University, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then enrolled at Drew University, where he graduated with two Master's Degrees, one in Divinity and the other in Philosophy. He completed an internship in clinical pastoral education at the University Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

Sykes became the pastor at Bethel Community Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1993. He also serves as the chaplain at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.

As a member of the Democratic Party, Sykes declared his intention to run for the United States House of Representatives in the 2014 elections, challenging incumbent Republican David Jolly in . The Pinellas County Democratic Party chairman told him he would be "persona non grata" if he ran, and Sykes dropped out. Sykes is considering another campaign for 2016.

Personal Sykes has four children.

Sykes was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007.