Anna Rose Neal

Anna Rose Neal, also fondly called Mamaw, entered into eternal rest on June 27, 2024 at the age of 98. She was born in Hattiesburg, MS on May 24, 1926 and moved to the Jackson area with her husband, Farmer Jim Neal, when he began his morning radio show on WSLI where he lovingly called her “Miss Anne” on air. Early on she worked for Mutual of Omaha in the claims department and then she continued her work in the home raising their 3 children. With her husband being on a popular morning radio show for 50 years and in the MS House of Representatives for 24, Anna Rose was busy volunteering and heading up multiple clubs and charities. She was truly the driving force and an incredible support behind the great man that her husband was.

The Neal Family was active in Alta Woods and then First Baptist Church of Jackson and she still watched the service from her home every Sunday when she was no longer able to attend in person. Faith and trust in our Lord was the guiding force of her life and she read her Bible daily. If you met her she would tell you about the Lord and also teach you manners if you didn’t use them properly. While she was the epitome of a Southern Lady she was also incredibly vibrant and loved to dance and think of ways to have fun. From teaching the neighborhood kids the Twist and Double Dutch jump rope, to playing “Big Fat Baby”, to wearing berets with her financial planner while reviewing her investments she could make almost any situation fun. The gain of her angel wings is such a huge loss for those that she leaves behind. To know her was to love her.

She is survived by her son, Jimmy Neal; 4 grandchildren, Anna Laura Hatchett, Austin Peeples, Brad Neal, and Anna Miller; 4 great grandchildren, Savanna and Ava Walden and Jacob and Adam Neal; as well as siblings, Charlie and Nancy Dunn. She was welcomed into heaven by her husband, James Neal, and 2 children, Janna Bradley and Pat Neal.

A service to celebrate her life will be held Wednesday, July 3rd at 10 a.m. at the Pavilion of Lakewood Memorial Park. Memorials may be made in Anna Rose Neal’s name to the Friends of MSH, PO Box 75, Whitfield, MS 39193.