Shirley Neal

Shirley Mae Neal

1935 - 2025

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Obituary of Shirley Mae Neal

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Shirley Mae Neal was born at home at 241 W. 144th Street in Harlem, New York City on November 20, 1935 to Bertha Lucas Bell and Lacie Bell. However, her birth family was unable to continue raising her, and at the age of about three she, along with her older sisters Albertha and Millie, entered the New York City foster care system. Following this ordeal, Shirley landed in Jamaica, Queens at the home of Rosanna Topping Long, Julius Long and their children Rose Irene and Winifred (known as “Winnie”). She would be raised with Lenora Carter and Eula Daniels who were also foster children in the Long home. Rosanna raised Shirley for as long as she could but was unfortunately stricken with breast cancer. As a child, Shirley helped care for an ailing Rosanna, who she called “mother.” When her foster mother passed away, Shirley was raised by Rosanna’s sister, Irene Topping Boyd, who she called “Auntie.” 

Shirley attended Mabel Dean Bacon High School where she honed the homemaking skills she would later put to good use. She studied sewing and became quite a seamstress. However, the weight of being separated from her birth family greatly impacted Shirley’s life, and she found herself independent in the world as a young adult. As fate would have it, she was reunited with her sisters Albertha and Millie as well as her birth mother, Bertha, who had remarried and had more children (Jean, Patrice and later Charles). Her circle expanded to include her birth mother’s side of the family (The Lucas Family), which included Bertha’s siblings (Aunt Hester, Aunt Marie, Aunt Virginia Bell, Aunt Nellie, Aunt Etta and Uncle Norman) as well as Shirley’s grandmother Annie Walker Lucas. 

As an adult, Shirley married the man who became the love of her life, John Thomas Neal. Together they raised daughters Stephanie, Patricia, Carol, Jo Ann and Johnette in the Bronx, New York. Life was never perfect, but Shirley had many joys during this time and she defined herself as a mother. She took pride in making sure her daughters were dressed in fancy dresses with bows in their hair. She made clothes for them and was fantastic at knitting and crocheting, which she taught them as well. She valued education and sat at the kitchen table helping her children learn to write, read or work on projects. Shirley attended school events and was present for her children. She went to Morris High School at night to complete her own education that had been cut short. After she graduated, she attended Bronx Community College for a short time. Shirley also loved photography. She extensively chronicled her family’s life through photos and had an extensive collection of photo albums. 

After the birth of her last child, she worked in family day care and put two daughters through Catholic school with her earnings. She did all of this despite being recently diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, which kept her in constant pain. Sometimes she limped, used a cane or wore special shoes.The life she made with her family was not without its struggles, but through all of it she loved the Lord and went to church, both Catholic and Protestant, regularly. She read and highlighted the Bible and knew Bible  verses and hymns. She was especially involved in St. Augustine’s Catholic Church where her children participated in the youth group and one attended the parish school. Shirley loved the Rosary and was a proud Rosarian (Rosary Society member) at Immaculate Conception Catholic church where her youngest child attended grades one through eight. Shirley was also a church usher at Harlem’s historic Abyssinian Baptist Church where she served proudly in a bright white, always freshly ironed uniform. 

In later years, Shirley’s arthritis progressed. She used a walker and finally a wheelchair, but through it all, she laughed and talked, and dreamed and reminisced, and planned and celebrated. She never abandoned the joys of life. Shirley never stopped dreaming. She always had faith and an undying inner strength that propelled her until the last day of her life. 

Shirley will be greatly missed and mourned by family and friends. May she rest in eternal peace. She was preceded in death by her husband John Neal in 2020, her sisters-in-law Mildred Neal and Sally Neal-Davis in 2021, her daughter Patricia Neal in 2022 and her sister-in-law Clara Chambers in 2024. She is survived by her daughters Stephanie Chisholm, Carol Frans (Antonio), Jo Ann Neal and Johnette Miller (Stephen); grandchildren, Erika Johnson, Willie Howard III (Melissa), Jamil Frans (Jenille), Jessica Heartwood (Christopher), Safiyyah Talley (Jacob), Ali Miller and Aliyyah Miller; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends in both New York City and Philadelphia.

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Saturday
8
February

Visitation

9:30 am - 11:00 am
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Saint Philip Neri Church
437 Ridge Pike
Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, United States
Saturday
8
February

Funeral Mass

11:00 am
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Saint Philip Neri Church
437 Ridge Pike
Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, United States
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Shirley Neal

In Loving Memory

Shirley Neal

1935 - 2025

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