Richard Neal, Sr.

Richard Neal, Sr., 85, of Shannon Hills, Arkansas, passed away on January 11, 2021 at Baptist Health Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Richard Neal, Sr. was born the third child of twelve children in Dermott, Arkansas (Chicot County) to Silas Neal, Sr. and Laura Bell Brown on August 24, 1935. He attended Chicot County Training School of Dermott. He married Bertha Mae McCoy on July 31, 1964 in Dermott, Arkansas.

He worked on the farm, hauling wood from the mill, Delta Asphalt in Dermott, Arkansas Meat Packing House in Little Rock, picked vegetables in California, Troy Plating in Illinois, and retired after thirty years as a welder for General Motors in Flint, Michigan.

He enjoyed working on cars, and playing blues and gospel music on guitar, piano and electric organ. He will be deeply missed by his friends and family and all who knew him.

Richard Neal, Sr. is preceded in death by (brothers) Silas Neal, Jr., Warren Neal, Leron Neal, Leavy Neal, Earnest Neal and Willie Neal, (sisters) Larua Neal Handley and Annie Mae Neal Turner, (father) Silas Neal, Sr. and (mother) Larua Bell Brown Neal.

Richard Neal, Sr. survived by his wife of 55 years Bertha Mae McCoy Neal, (son) Richard Neal, Jr. of Mabelvale, Arkansas, (daughter) Sharon Neal of Las Vegas, Nevada, (sisters) Mildred Neal Jones of Austin, Texas, Elsie Neal Steele of Gary, Indiana and Joyce A Neal-Spratt of Dermott, Arkansas, (grandchildren) Daniel Graham, Arthur Holloway and Cassie Holloway of Las Vegas, Nevada, (great grandchildren) Jaiden Holloway, Alijah Holloway, Izaiah Holloway, Zameil Holloway, Kiara Graham and Malik Graham of Las Vegas, Nevada, (sister-in-laws) Cora B Moore of Dermott, Arkansas and Lula B McCoy of Little Rock, Arkansas; and (special nieces) Rhonda Neal, Jamia, Jacque and Juell Phillips of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Honorary pallbearers are Richard Neal, Jr., Ronnie Neal, Lemone McCoy, Charles Giles, Dwayne Giles, Sr., and Leroy Giles, Jr., Walter Wilkerson Jr., Gabriel Richards, and Clarence Thrower.

The family of Richard Neal. Sr. wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Doctors and Nurses at the Baptist Health Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Viewing will be 8:30 am to 5:00 p.m. Monday, January 18, 2021 at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, Little Rock. Arrangements by Smith Little Rock Funeral Home.  Online guestbook at www.smithfamilycares.com.