john McNeil Program

Life Reflections D R . J OHN S. M C N EIL passed away on May 24, 2023. John was born September 8, 1927 to John and Julia McNeil in Hampton, Virginia. In 1956, John married Bettye Bettis and they led a happy life together, along with their son Thomas McNeil. John graduated from Storer College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1948, obtained a Masters of Social Work degree in Atlanta University in 1951, and a Doctor of Social Work at the University of Southern California in 1964. John pledged with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 1945 and remained a lifelong active member. He also later joined the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (ie, Boulé). John entered the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and obtained the rank of Colonel, serving until 1978. During his time in the Air Force, John became Chief, Social Worker of the US Air Force, managing social work services on over 80 Air Force installations. After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force, John became Associate Professor and then Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington and University of Texas at Austin Schools of Social Work. He served as the Director of the UTA Community Service Clinic and Chair of the PhD program of the Graduate School of Social Work for several years. He was selected for the position Louis and Ann Wolens Centennial Chair Emeritus in Gerontology at University of Texas at Austin. During his academic tenure, he published over 40 scholarly articles or book chapters, 9 books or monographs, and served on the editorial board of the Journal of Multicultural Social Work. Faithful members of St. John Church in Grand Prairie, TX, John and Bettye served in several leadership positions. In 2013, St. John Church dedicated its new Victory Place Counseling Center to Dr. and Mrs. McNeil to honor their years of service. Dr. McNeil is preceded in death by his beloved wife Bettye McNeil; his parents; his siblings, Auguster, Aurelia and Sylvester McNeil; his daughter-in-law, Dr. Allison C. Howe-McNeil. John leaves to cherish his memories: one son, Thomas McNeil, M.D., of Arlington, TX; and a granddaughter, Anna McNeil, Esq., of Norman, OK.

A SERVICE OF PRAISE FOR THE LIFE, LOVE AND LEGACY OF Dr. John S. McNeil Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uniformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ~ I T HESSALONIANS 4:13-14 Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 11:00 AM S T . J OHN C HURCH U NLEASHED 1701 W. Jefferson | Grand Prairie, Texas 75051 Dr. Denny D. Davis

PROCESSIONAL………………………………………………Clergy, Pallbearers, and Family “Soft Music”

FINAL GLIMPSE TILL GLORY………………………..……Golden Gate Funeral Directors

SONG OF PRAISE……………………………………….…………………..Mr. Clark Joseph

OLD TESTAMENT READING……..……………………………………Pastor Ellis Ford, Jr.

NEW TESTAMENT READING……..………………………….…..Reverend Willie Jefferson

PRAYER OF COMFORT………………………………………………Reverend D. Atkinson

MUSICAL SELECTION……………………………….…….St. John Church Music Ministry

RESOLUTIONS…………………………………………...……….St. John Church and Others

SPECIAL REMARKS………………………………...…..Rev. D. Atkins (Counseling Ministry) .. Deacon R.A Parker Deacon Rodney Johnson

REMARKS BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS……………....….…………Limit 2 Minutes, Please

OBITUARY READING…………………………………….………………………...In Silence “Soft Music”

MUSICAL SELECTION………………..………………….....St. John Church Music Ministry

EULOGY……………………………………………………...….…. ……..Dr. Denny D. Davis

RECESSIONAL……………………………………………..……..……….…. Funeral Cortege

A Loving Tribute to A Truly Remarkable Person Dr. John S. McNeil has positively impacted the lives of so many and has been a constant blessing and source of strength for those who have been lucky enough to know him. His quick humor and never-ending love and support will be greatly missed. We feel deeply grateful and blessed to have grown up with your influence and the values you have passed on to us. You are by far the best father and grandfather we could have hoped for, and we cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for us. We are immensely proud of the life you led and the legacy you have left. No amount of time with you could ever feel like enough, but after 95 years here on earth, we are happy to know that you are reunited with mom/grandma and so many other loved ones up in heaven. You will be forever missed and always in our hearts.

-Love Your Son and Granddaughter

F OR THE G OOD T IMES U NCLE M AC , A S PECIAL T RIBUTE TO Y OU F ROM Y OUR N IECES AND N EPHEWS

Welcomed with a kiss Greeted at the door Laughter and jokes Uncle Mac was ready with more Beefeater in the cabinet Glasses with a rim The martini is ready, green olives rounded and trimmed A dignified man with statue and clout A Colonel in the military prestigious, no doubt The man of many talents, a professor at UT and UTA Author of books, so many accomplishments have come your way What facts you stated and statistics galore Que Dog branded purple and gold, nothing more

A giver to all, no questions asked He loved the lord without any lack We wish you well on your journey to heaven Auntie is there, “John it’s Betty “ Your family of long ago will welcome you home, How glad they are that your presence is known “Good and faithful servant, well done Jesus will say, welcome to eternity this is where you will stay “ Now to all of us left behind We’ve learned from you not to waste time So goodbye Uncle Mac We love you Thank you for the Good times See you soon

Dr. John S. McNeil

We Love You A million times we needed you, A million times we cried If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died In life we loved you dearly, In death we love you still, In our hearts you hold a place No one could ever fill. It broke our hearts to lose you But you don’t go alone, Part of us went with you. The day God took you home. God saw that you were getting tired, And relief was not to be, So he put his arms around you And whispered “Come With Me.” With tearful eyes we stayed with you, But saw you fade away. Although we loved you dearly, We could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, Hard working hands to rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us, “He Only Takes The Best. The Family

Acknowledgement Perhaps you sent a lovely card or sat quietly in a chair, Perhaps you sent beautiful flowers, if so, we saw them there. Perhaps you spoke the kindest words as any friend could say. Perhaps you were not there at all, just thought of us that day. Perhaps you prepared a tasty dish, or rendered a service unseen, near at hand or from afar; Whatever you did to console our hearts, we thank you so much, whatever was the kindly part. MAY GOD FOREVER BLESS EACH OF YOU. -THE FAMILY ACTIVE PALLBEARERS Harold Miller Mark Williams Sherwin Hudson Jay Drumond Terry Vance Ronald Denmon HONORARY PALLBEARERS Dr. Thomas McNeil , M. D. Carl Hays Godwin Bettis Rodney Johnson R. A. Parker Dr. Pedro Lecca INTERMENT Friday June 2, 2023 9:00 AM Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery Dallas, Texas

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS Memorials may be made in memory of Dr. John S. McNeil to the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation at omrf.org.

-F INAL A RRANGEMENTS E NTRUSTED T O - John E. Beckwith G OLDEN G ATE F UNERAL H OME John E. Beckwith, Jr. - CEO & Owner Dallas, Texas 214-941-7332

Fort Worth, Texas 817-478-9555 Tallulah, Louisiana 318-574-6100 www.goldengatefuneralhome.com