Gladys Myree Neal

We just think of Gladys as resting, from the sorrows and the tears. In a place of warmth and comfort, where there are no days and years. Think of how she must be wishing, that we could know, today, how nothing but our sadness can really pass away. We think of her as living, in the hearts of those she so dearly touched. Nothing loved is ever lost and Gladys was loved so much! On September 26, 1924, the Lord blessed Rev. Johnny Neal and Beulah Eaton Neal in a special way with the birth of another child they named Gladys Myree. During her early childhood, she gave her life to Christ and joined the Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church family in Dalark, Arkansas under the leadership of her father Rev. Johnny Neal. The Lord blessed Gladys with a melodious voice, that could capture the words of every hymn - versus by versus. Gladys was the proud mother of two handsome sons; Larenza & Bobbie. These boys were the love and joy of her life. She was a faithful member of Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church as long as her health would allow her to attend. Even as her health began to fail she took advantage of every opportunity to praise and worship the Lord. Gladys had a bubbly personality & spirit that would steal the heart of any stranger. She loved beautiful clothes, jewelry and her favorite pastime was singing hymns & reading the bible. On Sunday, May 18, 2008, after 83 seasons, God dispatched an angel to Golden Living Center in Arkadelphia, to the bed side of Gladys - lifted her spirit and escorted her to her mansion that was prepared for her in heaven. Awaiting her arrival and to welcome her home were her parents; three brothers, Edward Neal, John Morris Neal and Charles Neal; two sisters, Gracie Buckley and Marion Neal. She leaves in God‘s care: Her sons Larenza Browning of Arkadelphia, Arkansas and Bobbie & his wife Essie of Little Rock, Arkansas; two sisters Elsie Thrower of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Ethel T. Kuykendall of Atwater, California; three brothers Arthur Neal of Grand Rapids, Michigan, David & his wife Vernita of Oakland, California and Albert & his wife Gracie Neal of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, who did his best to address her every need. She also leaves six loving grandchildren: Shirley Henry, Shantel Williams, DeAnn Neal, Gerald Browning, Richard Neal and Christopher Browning; nine great-grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter, several nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and the Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church family. Ms. Neal will lie in state at the funeral home on Friday, May 23, 2008, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The family will greet and share with friends the Images of Life DVD at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 16th & Caddo Streets, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. A reception will immediately follow in the fellowship hall. The Neal family will celebrate the life of Sis. Gladys Myree Neal on Saturday, May 24, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church in Dalark, Arkansas, where Rev. Linda Butler, the pastor will officiate and deliver a message of comfort and hope. The committal service and final resting place will be in the Houston-Turner Cemetery in Dalark, Arkansas. The bearers of the casket will be Claude DeLamar, Terry Wright, Kenny Quarles, Sammy DeLamar, Darrel Taylor, Larry Wiley, Aaron Nelson, and Milton Nelson. The honorary bearers of the casket will be her grandsons, nephews and Trustees of Mt Olive A.M.E. Church