Services for William E. “Bill” Neal Jr. of Florence were 10a.m., Saturday, Feb. 26, at Briar Hill Baptist Church in Florencewith burial in the church cemetery. Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home inPearl was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Neal, 77, died Feb. 24, 2005, at Mississippi Baptist MedicalCenter. He was born in Lawrence County on Feb. 1, 1928, to Estusand Isabel Neal.

He worked for Vickers of Jackson for 17 years and later retiredfrom Siemens of Richland in 1991. He was a veteran of the Army. Hewas a lifetime member of the Scottish Rites of Free Masons and amember of Grand Lodge of Mississippi, Evening Star #0070 inFlorence. He was a member of Briar Hill Baptist Church, where heserved as a deacon for many years.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and two brothers, RalphNeal and Carey Neal.

Survivors are his wife of 59 years, Murle Lambert Neal ofFlorence; his daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and ScottHigginbotham of Ridgeland; his son, Randall Neal of Destin Fla.;his sisters, Bonnie Lambert of Haus, Tenn., and Elinor Winters ofGassville, Ark.; his brother, Huey Neal of Lowell, Ark.; hissister-in-law, Joy Neal of Likely, Calif.; and his grandchildren,Elizabeth Ann Neal of Portland, Ore., Ashley and Cody Nelson andAndy Higginbotham, all of Ridgeland.

Memorials may be made to Briar Hill Baptist Church, 591 Hwy 469N., Florence, MS 39073