(i Eelehrattxm of for
Paine College Gilbert-Lambeth Chapel
October 25, 1983 . 4:00 P.M. The Reverend Dr. Joseph C. Coles, Jr., Presiding Bishop Dr. William H. Harris, College President The Reverend Jerry Poole, Campus Pastor

Luther Randall Neal, one of three children of the late John and Nancy Neal, was born April 3, 1916
in Warren County, Georgia. Reverend Neal, as he was affectionately known, was an remarkable man. At an early age, he
possessed a longing to learn and to achieve. Thus driven by this dream, as a young man, he left his parents farm and entered the school system of McDuffie County. In 1943, he received his high school diploma. Four years later, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. In 1957 Atlanta University conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. In later years he received his six year certificate from that same University.
For the next thirty-one years, he devoted his energies to the training and discipline of young minds. Twenty-three of those years were spent as a principal in Elbert County and the remaining eight years as a
principal in Richmond County. In addition to educating of young minds, Reverend Neal also dealt with the spiritual lives of people.
He was an ordained minister in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He was the founder and pastor of Farrs Mission in McDuffie County. He faithfully served the following C.M.E. Churches: Rock of Ages in Augusta, St. Marys in Elberton, and Trinity in Augusta. During his ministry, he served as Presiding Elder on two occasions; six years on the Elberton District and seven years on the Augusta District. Seventeen years of his ministry were spent as the Dean of the Leadership Training School at Paine College. On numerous occasions, he represented the church on the connectional level. He was a delegate to several General Conferences and he served on the General Board.
Following his retirement from the school system in 1978, he served on the clergy staff of University and Georgia Regional Hospitals. He was a proud board member of the Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center and a member of the board of Trustees of Paine College.
Reverend Neal received numerous awards and honors during his illustrious career. Some of them are: Teacher of the Year Award from Elbert County ; Paine College Presidential Alumni Award; Minister of the Year in the Georgia Conference; Christian Educator at Trinity C.M.E. Church; and most recently declared Poet Laureate by The Augusta Black History Committee.
In addition to beinga distinguished educator, community leader, civic leader, and pastor, Reverend Neal was also an author and poet. He has published a book entitled The Church, The Home, The School and he has authored numerous poems dedicated to countless persons.
He is survived by his lovely wife, Mrs. Ann Neal; one son, Mr. Joseph Robert Banks of Washington, D.C.; one daughter, Mrs. Robin Banks West of Deer Park, New York; two neices, Mrs. Nancy Ramsey and Mrs. Lillian Wright both of Atlanta, Georgia; Four nephews, Mr. LeRoy Kinsey, Jr. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mr. Marion Kinsey of Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Lennon Neal of Thomson, Georgia, and Mr. Luther Randall Neal of Chicago, Illinois; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Vivian Lewis of Augusta, Georgia and Mrs. Valencia J. Alston of New York; and a host of relatives and friends.

PRAYER

Dear God and Father of mankind, We give Thee thanks with soul and mind. We trust in Thee with faith and hope. To solve problems we can not cope!

Thank you dear God for night and day, And for bringing us thus far on our way! We are sometimes up and sometimes down,
But still our soul feels Heavenly bound!

You are our doctor of body and mind, Who makes every call right on time!
We trust in Thee, beyond any doubt,
To meet our needs and lead us out!

Give us the patience, on Thee to wait For showers of blessings, never too late! Here is my hand Lord, lead me on; I will follow Thee to thy Throne!

When the way is dark and hills are high, You stand ready to hear our cry! We depend upon thy saving grace, To guide our feet to keep the pace!

Stand by me Lord, as a pillar of stone; Hold my hand, I am never alone!
I am not afraid walking with you,
For you are my doctor and my Saviour too!

From: The Home, The Church, The School
by
The Reverend Luther Randall Neal December, 1978

( rfrer oi

The Prelude ....................................................... Mr. William Christmas College Organist

The Processional ........................................................... Mr. Christmas

The Call to Worship ............................................. The Reverend Jerry Poole Campus Pastor

Leader:

We have gathered on the Paine College Campus to celebrate the Victory of the Reverend Luther Randall Neal and his entry into life eternal.

Response: To affirm with praise and thanksgiving the goodness of the Lord.

Leader:

Let us rejoice in his presence with us, in death as in life, among those who mourn as with those who now see him face to face.

Response: Our lips will shout for joy, for his love is over all that he has made. Blessed be his glorious name forever!

The Hymn of Praise #1 ............................... "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing"

The Apostles Creed ....................................................... Reverend Poole

Reverend Poole: Let us unite in this historic confession of the Christian Faith

Minister and People:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayer of Victory .......................................... The Reverend J. A. Holman Presiding Elder, Elberton District

The Old Testament Lesson ...................................... The Reverend H. E. McRae

....

Presiding Elder, Atlanta District

": ~

Psalm 27

The New Testament Lesson .................................... The Reverend Gene R. Dean Pastor, Williams Memorial C.M.E. Church Selected verses from Romans 8

Musical Selection ...................................... Combined C.M.E. Choirs of Augusta

As We Loved Him:

Public School ..................................... Dr. John P. Strelec, Superintendent, Richmond County Schools

Paine College Alumni .......................... Mr. Welcome Mason, National President

Friend ........................................... The Reverend J. E. Robinson, Pastor, Rock of Ages C.M.E. Church

Church .............................................. Bishop P. Randolph Shy, Retired Bishop Nathaniel Linsey, Presiding Prelate Ninth Episcopal District

Paine College. ......................................... Dr. William H. Harris, President

Solo ................................................................ M rs. Audrey Thomas "How Great Thou Art"

The Eulogy ................................................... Bishop Joseph C. Coles, Jr. Presiding Prelate, Sixth Episcopal District

The Recessional ...........................................................Mr. Christmas

Interment: Mt. Olive Memorial Gardens

Active Pallbearers
The Reverend Timothy Green The Reverend John Cook The Reverend R. L. Davenport The Reverend Lacey J. Cochrane The Reverend Cecil Grasham The Reverend Raymond Thompkins The Reverend John Jordan The Reverend Willie Crew
Honorary Pallbearers
Paine College Trustees Teachers of Richmond County Ministers of the Georgia Conference
The Augusta Clergy
Flower Bearers l
The Stewardesses and Missionaries of the Augusta District
W. H. MAYS MORTUARY Professional Service A Family Tradition Since 1922
1221 Ninth Street Augusta, Ga. 722-6401
W. H. Mays, 111, Mortician Carrie J. Mays, Director