Neely obituaries, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

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Name, date of obit, date submitted, submitted for the USGenWeb Archives by:

Neely, Mildred Witherspoon Gideon    10 Aug 2003    Aug 2003    Don Johnson

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Obituary published in The Advocate (Baton Rouge) on:  8/10/2003

NEELY, MILDRED WITHERSPOON GIDEON
Mrs. Sidney Landry Neely died peacefully on Monday, Aug. 4, 2003, at Sharon
Towers in Charlotte, N.C. She was born Feb. 27, 1916, in Greenwood, Miss.,
to Howard Witherspoon Gideon and Lucy Cage Hinman Gideon. An only child,
her loving parents surrounded her with many dear Hinman cousins, one being
Emily Hinman Adams of San Antonio. Being raised mostly in the Hammond,
Baton Rouge and New Orleans area, she attended Southeastern Louisiana
University and, until her death, was one of the oldest living Yellow
Jackets. She later attended Pope's Business School and worked for Gulf 
States Utilities in Baton Rouge and Rich's in Atlanta. In 1941, she met the
love of her life, Sidney L. Neely of High Point, N.C. The Neelys had called
Charlotte home since moving there in 1967, but began their married life in
the loving community of Baton Rouge, where the town's people would rally
around their wartime marriage and make it special. They married on July 5,
1943. They would go on to have four children who loved their mother dearly.
Butch, Bob, Betsy and Beverly would affectionately be known as the 4 Bs by
their mother. During the next 60 years Mrs. Neely, devoted to her husband, 
encouraged his entrepreneurial spirit and was beside him through his
various jobs and endeavors which would take them to various cities and
towns. Together, they traveled to more than 30 countries and a multitude of
states. Her main success and joy, however, were found in raising her
children and being the CEO of the Sid Neely Family. Mrs. Neely was a most
caring and generous Southern lady, always looking her best. She quietly
helped others knowing how a lift could help someone get over hard times.
She was a Gray Lady for the American Red Cross and a wonderful volunteer.
Mrs. Neely instilled in her children a strong sense of community,
self-worth, family, standing up for what is right and just, and a good
sense of humor. She will forever be in their hearts and souls. She was
proceeded in death by her parents Howard and Lucy Gideon, who were of 
Hammond and Baton Rouge; her in-laws, Austin and Lillian Neely; a special
aunt, Sister Mary Carmel (Adah Marie Hinman), who was a member of the
Dominican Order in New Orleans; and several Hinman cousins. She is survived
by her beloved and devoted husband of 60 years, Sidney Landry Neely Sr.;
her son, Sidney Landry Neely Jr., Rockville, Md., along with Cheryl Gregg
Neely and their children, Stephen Gregg Neely, Alexander Landry Neely,
Portland, Ore., and Elizabeth Talbot Neely, Wooster, Ohio; son, Robert
Gideon Neely and wife Patricia, Charlotte, and their children, Kimberly and 
husband John Jorgensen, New York, and Rob Ricketson, Vermont.; daughter,
Elizabeth Lucy Neely, Charlotte; and Beverly Marie Neely Bruce and husband
Robert Bruce, Weddington, and their children Neely Marie Bruce and Caroline
Sydney Bruce; and special great-grandchildren, Curtis and Heidi Jorgensen,
New York. Mildred's children will hold close the wonderful stories their
mom shared with them about the friends and family who called Baton Rouge
home. The greatest mom four kids could ask for, loved forever by the man of
her dreams, more friends than she ever realized. A true Southern lady this
way has passed and we are blessed.  

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