Bobby Joyce Neal

Wilmington - Bobby Joyce Neal, age 75, of Wilmington, Delaware passed away peacefully after her courageous fight with cancer on December 6, 2017.

Bobby was preceded in death by her parents Cliate and Willie Lee Carter and her parents-in-law Edward and Barbara Neal. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her siblings Nell Masters, Barbara Woolsey, Robert Woodward, Richard Carter and Randall Carter.

Bobby lived life to the very fullest every moment that she had. She was the strongest, loving, most caring woman that you could ever meet. She was always whistling around the house. Saying that Bobby loved to cook and bake for her family was an understatement. Shopping at Kohl's (with her Kohl's cash of course), vacationing at the beach and listening to country music were just a few of her favorite things.

The holidays were her most favorite time of the year. She exquisitely decorated every imaginable place in her home for the holidays including the bathroom! She had the gift of gift-giving. She put love, thought and meaning into every single gift that she gave.

She was a prankster by nature and loved trying to play jokes on everyone whether it was freezing a bra because someone fell asleep or her numerous gag gifts; a trait that has been passed down to each and every one of her children.

Bobby loved her family with every ounce of her being and absolutely treasured being a mom, grandmom and great-grandmom. It was her greatest work and she wore it proudly as a badge of honor. She loved hard and she loved strong. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with her heart and soul.

Bobby is survived by her husband, soul mate and best friend of 44 years Edward Neal Jr. They had an extraordinary type of love that was palpable between them. Bobby and Ed first met on a blind date and had an immediate connection and 8 months later were married. Their union together brought 6 children, 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

She will lovingly be remembered and greatly missed by her children: Albert Leifheit (Jeanne), Debbie Currinder (Glenn), Edward Neal (Jackie), Kimberly Cleveland (Donny), Sharon Pierce (Michael), and Deanna Neal-Ward (Patrick). Her grandchildren:

Albert (Gabrielle), Stephanie, Tara, Grace, Eddie, TJ, Julianna (Nolan), Salina, Anthony (Holly), Ashley (Jon), Andrew (Lindsey), Bradley, Ashton, Brian, Tyler, Kayla and Layanna.

Her great-grandchildren: Alyvia, Bella, Aiden, Destiny, RJ, Kylie, Bailey, DJ, Isiah and Isabella.

Her siblings: Vernon and Janet Carter, Maxine Woodward, Kathy Carter, Lou and Ginny Carter as well as many nieces and nephews.

She will also be missed by the many children and families that she opened her home and helped raised throughout her whole life.

Friends and family are invited to visitation on Monday, December 11, 2017 from 9:00 to 11:00AM at McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803 with funeral services that will begin at 11:00AM. Burial to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery.

The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all those at Christiana Care Hospital unit 6B and the Helen Graham Cancer Center. Also a special thank you to all those at Heartland Hospice for their dedication, they made sure our Mothers last days were filled with as much compassion, kindness, love and dignity as the fullness of her life.

Funeral Home
McCrery & Harra Funeral Home
3924 Concord Pike Wilmington, DE 19803

Published in The News Journal on Dec. 9, 2017