THOMSON, Ga.- Dr. Thomas Jefferson Neal, 82, died Thursday, January 6, 2005, at McDuffie Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Neal, a retired dentist, was a native and lifelong resident of Thomson. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Thomson and a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict. A respected community leader, Dr. Neal served 22 years on the McDuffie County Board of Education, was a Paul Harris and Will Watt Fellow of Thomson Rotary International and served on the Boards of Directors of the Bank of Thomson and First Federal Savings and Loan. A graduate of Emory University School of Dentistry, and one of four generations in dentistry, Dr. Neal was an Honorary Fellow of the Georgia Dental Association in recognition of more than 50 years of service to the profession of dentistry in Georgia. Dr. Neal was married to the late Mary Claire Morgan Neal.
He is survived by a daughter, Nan Neal Tam and two sons, Thomas Jefferson Neal, Jr. and Linton Mathews Neal, all of Thomson. Other survivors include five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Saturday, January 8, 2005, at 4 p.m. at Westview Cemetery in Thomson, with Rev. Robert C. Gillespie and Dr. George R. Freeman officiating.
Honorary pallbearers were members of The Promise Keepers and members of the men's Bible class at the Thomson First United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 8, Thomson, GA 30824, or to local affiliates of Gideons International.
Curtis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
