SOUTHPORT — Sarah Ann “Sally” McNeil, 89, passed away Thursday evening, Jan. 18, 2018, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. She was born May 10, 1928, in Southport, the daughter of James A. McNeil (Gus) and Gertrude Gause McNeil.
Sally graduated from Southport High School and attended Sacred Heart College in Belmont, N.C., and the Abbott School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. She spent her career as a world-renowned fashion illustrator in Washington before retiring and moving back to Southport in 1978. As well as art, she loved gardening, cooking, sewing and genealogy. She was a former member of both the Atlantic City, N.J., General Lafayette Chapter of the DAR and the Brunswick Town Chapter of the DAR.
A lover of all animals, she adopted many downtown stray cats and a stray, three-legged dog. Her sharp sense of humor and quick mind, thoughtfulness, generosity and love of her family will be greatly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, James A. McNeil Jr. (Buddy).
She is survived by a sister, Trudy McNeil Young (Joe) of Southport; and nieces and nephews, Katherine Hufham, Marie Hufham Hughes (Curtis), Erik Hufham (Missy) of Southport and Chris McNeil (Meaghan), Tracy McNeil, Wendy McNeil Hartman and Sean McNeil of Charleston; great-nieces and great-nephews, Ashley Hufham of Spring Lake, Grant Hufham of Southport and Kristin McNeil Burrill (Kevin) and Stephen Hartman (Gisela) of Charleston.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Coastal Companion Care, and especially to two of her caregivers, Wendy Faulk and Audrey Boggs, who provided her such wonderful care.
A funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 25, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or Southport Oak Island Animal Rescue (SOAR).
Share online condolences with the family at peacocknewnamwhite.com.
