We were saddened to hear about the passing of Representative Joe Neal of Hopkins. First elected to the State House in 1992, Rep. Neal represented District 70 in Richland and Sumter Counties. He also served as Pastor of Cavalry Baptist Church in Chester.
Joe Neal devoted his life to public service. In the House, he fought tirelessly for the residents of his rural district. He worked hard to ensure that his constituents had access to clean drinking water, battled predatory lending, and combatted racial profiling. He spoke passionately in favor of removing the Confederate flag from State House grounds. He was beloved among his colleagues, both those who usually agreed with him as well as those who didn’t.
Rep. Neal was active in the Lower Richland community beyond his government service. He founded Area Communities in Economic Development and Rural Sumter Communities for Economic Development and was a co-founder of the South Carolina Environmental Watch Network. He served Chairman of the Citizens for Hopkins Neighborhood Associations; co-chair of the South Carolina Progressive Network, and as a board member of the Carolina Peace Resource Center.
A mentor and friend to so many, he always had time for people. Joe Neal will be greatly missed. He practiced every day what he preached on Sundays. In his memory, let us all fight harder for those who are struggling and act kinder toward those we interact with every day.
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A memorial service for Rep. Neal will be held Sunday, February 19 at 2:30 pm at Calvary Baptist Church, 130 Walnut Street, Chester, SC 29706.
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 20 at 1:00 pm at First Nazareth Baptist Church, 2351 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29204. Services will be preceded by a public viewing at 11:30 am. Burial will take place at St. John Baptist Church in Hopkins.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Christopher King’s Funeral Home, 703 Old York Road, Chester, SC 29706.
