Mr. Sammie Lamar McNeel Obituary (1944

Mr. Sammie Lamar McNeel went to be with the Lord on January 3, 2026, in the arms of his beloved wife Jeannie, with a wink and whispering I love you, just before God sent His angels to take him home. Sammie was born on August 19, 1944, in Clay County, to the late Thomas and Minnie Griffin McNeel. Sammie was a graduate of Clay County High School in Montpelier. He was married to Darrellene Thompson for 34 years and fathered two daughters, Melinda and Melissa. He was a grandfather to Elizabeth, Charles, and Clara. On October 2, 2015, Sammie married Jeannie Johnson Staten and acquired an extended family of one step-son, Jeromiah. Jeromiah and his children, Abigail and Cody, became a very intricate part of his life and provided him with many memorable moments. Sammie held many jobs over his 81 years, but the most important one was serving Clay County as the Sheriff from 1971-1992. He always said that it was an honor to serve and protect the citizens of Clay County. Sammie was the youngest of thirteen children, all of whom preceded him in death. It was a blended family of yours, mine, and ours. Along with this, brought many nieces and nephews to numerous to mention. Among these were Lee McNeel and his wife, Jeanie and Linda Taylor and her husband, Willie, who always opened their home for family get-togethers and holidays. One remaining sister-in-law, Betty Glenn McNeel, has always been the rock on which he could count on to provide comfort with visits in his later days. Sammie had numerous friends but one that was always by his side was Elois Parker. Elois was his partner in every sense. They worked together and shared all the good times and the bad. He was the one that he always called on when he needed help. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Mary Hurt, Clara Hampton, Sue Thomas, Robertine Morley, and Eleanor McNeel Roebuck, and six brothers, Bilbo McNeel, Sr., Tommy McNeel, Vernie McNeel, James Montgomery, Charles Montgomery, and Bob Montgomery. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 6, 2026, from 5:00-8:00 P.M. at Calvert Funeral Home in West Point. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. from Calvert Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Keith Carter officiating, Mr. Cooper McNeel delivering the Eulogy, and Sheriff Eddie Scott delivering the Watchman Prayer. Burial will follow in Pine Bluff Cemetery in Mantee, but his soul will be setting at the feet of Jesus. Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements. Survivors include his wife, Jeannie Johnson McNeel of West Point: his two daughters, Melinda Herrington (Duane) of Tupelo and Melissa Miller (Carl) of West Point: one step-son, Jeromiah Staten (Bryndi) of Hamilton: three grandchildren, Charles Scott of West Point, Elizabeth White (Don) of Midland, Texas, and Clara Seitz of London, England: two step-grandchildren, Abigail and Cody Staten of Hamilton: one sister-in-Law, Betty McNeel of Mantee: one brother-in-law, Jessie Johnson (Peggy) of Pontotoc, and a number of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be John Glenn McNeel, Elois Parker, Jeromiah Staten, Cody Staten, Lee McNeel, and Cooper McNeel. Honorary Pallbearers will be Pete Dexter, Henry Smith, Jim Waide, Scott Ross, Floyd McKee, David Waide, Mark Hazzard, Jeana Whitacre, Doctors, Nurses, and Staff of Mississippi Home Health, Doctors, Nurses, and Staff of Sanctuary Hospice House, Doctors, Nurses, and Staff of Baptist Memorial Hospital Oncology Department. Memorials may be made to Pine Bluff Cemetery Fund, c/o Betty McNeel, 3127 Colony Road, Pheba, Mississippi 39755, Pleasant Grove Church, 4235 Brand-Una Road, Prairie, Mississippi 39756, or to Sanctuary Hospice House, 5159 West Main Street, Tupelo, Mississippi 38801. Special thanks to the members of Pleasant Grove Church which provided Christian love to Sammie over the last few years of his life and for honoring him as a Honorary Deacon position just before his death. Special thanks to Jeana Whitacre for providing his medical needs, Mississippi Home Health for their work to provide for home care, and all the Staff at Baptist Memorial Hospital Oncology Department. But most of all thanks to the Staff at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. Friends may leave an online condolence at www.calvertfuneralhome.com