Mary Jane Eller Neal

Mary Jane Eller Neal passed away peacefully in her sleep at Brookdale Reynolda home, in Winston Salem, on April 6, 2026, after declining health. She was 88 years old.

The daughter of the late Raymond and Rachel Wilson Eller of Vilas, N.C., she cherished her childhood growing up in an 1880s farmhouse built by her own grandfather, helping her parents in the many chores of a 24-acre farm in the close-knit Beaverdam community. After graduating from Bethel School in a class of a dozen close friends, she went to Wingate Junior College then back to Boone to attend Appalachian State University. Mary Jane had met the love of her life, Jerry Neal, at Wingate and they continued their courtship at Appalachian. They were married in the parlor of her farmhome in 1957. When Jerry accepted a new job at Western Electric, they settled in Winston-Salem in 1959 as Mary Jane made a warm home for their son, Dale, and daughter, Deborah.

She loved her family, she loved her neighbors, she loved the Lord, her many life-long friends remembered. She was active in her congregation at Salem Baptist Church, volunteering in the nursery and cooking Wednesday night church dinners for many years. She and Jerry shared their love of reading, gardening, college sports, Atlanta Braves, and travel.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 69 years, Gerald "Jerry" Neal; her son, Dale Neal (Cynthia) of Asheville; and daughter, Debbie Neal Sinski (Bing) of Huntersville. She had picked her own name "Grammy", delighting in her granddaughter, Amanda Sinksi Bostian (Phillip); great-grandchildren, Reed and Kinsley of Hickory; grandson, Austin Sinski and Ashley Thompson of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; and great-granddaughter, Savanah Cooper. She is also survived by countless friends and neighbors who enjoyed her warm friendship.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan's Purse https://www.samaritanspurse.org/