James Lee McNeal was born December 25, 1933, in Ellenton, Florida, to the late Willie McNeal, Sr., and Vern Ellis McNeal. He grew up in Ellenton, Florida. He was educated in the Manatee County school system. He was a farmer. He worked for Harlee Farms for over fifty years. His favorite hobby was fishing.
He slipped into eternity on Monday, April 9, 2024, in Brandon, Florida. Additional chronological facts: James married Sarah Green in June, 1958. They were married sixty-seven years when she had her untimely death on October 10, 2018. This union did not produce any biological children, but he helped his wife raise one adopted daughter, Wanda Johnson, and her children, Robert Johnson, Anna Johnson, and Deborah Johnson. He also contributed to the benefit and wellbeing of so many other family members that lived in his home.
He was a member of Mount Raymond Full Gospel Baptist Church in Palmetto, Florida. He was also the church's Landscaper until circumstances no longer allowed him to do the job. James was the last "Patriarch" of the McNeal family. In addition to his parents, he had ten siblings to precede him in death. *Cleo McNeil (McNeal) was born January 30, 1926, in Marianna, FL. He died April 28, 1973, in Stark, FL. Earnest McNeal was born April 2, 1936, in Ellenton, FL. He died August 7, 1986, in Bradenton, FL. Issac McNeil (McNeal) was born May 20, 1940, in Ellenton, FL. He died February 21, 1988.
Nathaniel McNeil (McNeal) was born March 25, 1931, in Ellenton, FL. He died August 2, 2000, in Bradenton, FL. Maggie Lee Lawrence was born March 16, 1920, in Marianna, FL. She died July 24, 2001, in Bradenton, FL. Willie McNeal, Jr. (McNeil), was born March 11, 1934, in Ellenton, FL. He died February 6, 2006, in Bradenton, FL. Jessie Lee McNeal Mays was born February 15, 1928, in Ellenton, FL. She died August 3, 2009, in Bradenton, FL. Ruth Bell McNeil (McNeal) was born November 4, 1929, in Ellenton, FL. She died October 1, 2011, in Bradenton, FL. Jimmy McNeil (McNeal) was born April 10, 1938, in Palmetto, FL. He was the son of Maggie Lawrence. He died November 28, 2015 (He was raised along with James McNeal by his grandmother Vern Ellis McNeal). Minnie Lee McNeal Pierre was born August 13, 1944, in Ellenton, FL.
She died May 19, 2022, in Tampa, FL. His remaining siblings are Iris McNeal Raymond and Willie Mae McNeil Presenidieu, both of Palmetto, FL. Winifred (McNeal) Douglas, Cecil Yarn (McNeal) Douglas, and King Yarn (McNeal) Douglas. Two Sisters-in-Law, Myrtice McNeil and Pearl McNeil, both of Palmetto, FL. He also leaves adopted grandchildren, and a host of relatives
