Faison Alicestine (Smith) McNeal

MCNEAL

On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, we did not think that when we awakened this morning, of the sorrow the day would bring. Our hearts were saddened by the passing of our loved one Mrs. Faison Alicestine Smith McNeal.

Born January 30, 1947, she was the first child of Emma French Harts Smith (Campbell) and John William Green Smith of Oxford, Mississippi. She accepted Christ at the age of thirteen at Greater Clark Street Baptist Church and attended Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi until she relocated from Jackson and began her life pursuits.

A lifelong learner, Faison began her literacy journey and her primary schooling at Oxford Training School and continued through sixth grade at Isabel Elementary School. Then she completed her secondary education at Jim Hill Junior-Senior High School in Jackson, Mississippi. She matriculated and earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics/Computer Science and Music from Jackson State College and a Master of Arts in the Teaching of Math from State University of New York, Binghamton.

She prided herself with acquiring advanced computer skills in high school, and refining them in college and graduate school, studies that helped her earn her career at IBM, from which she retired after twenty-seven years. Many were the stories she told of computer programs that she wrote, electrical engineering adjustments that she made to the technology, and walls of computers and related technology that she installed at one of our nation’s popular airports.

Faison was blessed with multiple talents/gifts which she shared with her colleagues, her friends, her family and her community. She was skilled in the creative arts, in drawing, sewing, knitting, quilting, crocheting, singing, playing numerous musical instruments, including the trombone and the piano for the children’s choir at church. She taught Sunday school, piano lessons, and performed other community services. Early in life she cooked, baked and decorated cakes for friends, 4-H Club, her sorority Zeta Phi Beta, and other organizations in which she held membership. She was a member of the Concerned Students of JSU who protested and marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Hosea Williams, James Farmer, etc. when Jackson became a hot spot for the Civil Rights Movement after students were murdered on Lynch Street.

She was quite versatile and prolific. In addition, beginning in high school and continuing throughout college, Faison performed in the Jim Hill High School marching band, the JSU marching band, and at clubs with one of the local jazz bands. Also, she was athletic and graduated from Jackson State University as the undefeated Women’s Golf Champion, and later in upstate New York, at one point, she was the reigning women’s bowling champion. She loved animals and nurtured cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, doves, finches and walls of fish in breeding tanks at home and believed in protecting the environment.

Faison and Dale Eugene McNeal were joined in holy matrimony on February 16, 1991, in Washington, D.C. Soon after she transferred to IBM, Columbus, Ohio and became a resident of Dale’s hometown of London. After her marriage, she joined and worshipped at her husband’s home church St. Paul’s AME in London.

Mrs. McNeal was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, sister Samantha Ruth Smith Shaw, Oxford, MS and brother Wendell Antonio Campbell, Jacksonville, FL. She leaves to cherish her memories: her faithful husband Dale McNeal, Stepmother Ruthie Mae Smith, Oxford, MS; her sisters Dr. Lillie Ernestine Smith Bailey, Chester VA, Vivian Smith, TeLisa Smith Curry and brother John Aaron Smith all of Oxford, Mississippi. Also, she is survived by sister-in-law, Cynthia Campbell, nieces Kimya Damali Bailey Cajchun, Burke, VA, Dr. Aishia Dahra Bailey, Chester VA, Nikkita Campbell, Jacksonville, FL, Rakia Campbell, US Army, Europe; Alana Proutt, Joshua Proutt, Demetrious Proutt and Antonio Campbell, all of Jacksonville, FL, and two cousins Margret J. Jamison and Ella Louise Crockett, of Memphis, Tennessee.

The family will receive friends on Friday, November 18, 2022, from 11:00AM-1:00 PM in the EBERLE-FISHER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, 103 North Main Street, London. A celebration of life service will begin at 1:00 PM with Reverend Melvyn Huguely officiating, and repass will be held at St. Paul’s AME Church, 11 West Center Street, London, following the service.

Online condolences for the family are encouraged to be shared at www.eberlefisherfuneralhome.com.           

“The blow was sudden, the shock severe, to part with the one we loved so dear. Weeping may last just for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Faison Alicestine (Smith) McNeal, please visit our floral store.