Ms. Alena Neal

Our beloved Alena Skipper Neal was a beautiful woman whose life was filled with tenacity, devotion and integrity. She lived her life exemplifying her belief and devotion to God. Her faith never wavered and her respect for self and others was unmatched. Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, Godmother and friend made her transition to glory on Saturday, January 21, 2017. Alena was born on March 28, 1939 in Wisner, LA to Louis and Onnie Bell Skipper, Sr. She was the eldest of three children. Alena accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Wisner, LA. Growing up in Wisner, she attended Peck Elementary, Wisner-Gilbert Middle School and Wisner-Gilbert High School. Alena graduated Salutatorian of her high school class in 1958. She continued her education at Grambling State University where she majored in Language Arts and Foreign Languages. She completed her student teaching in Louisiana and earned Bachelor of Science degrees from Grambling State University in Secondary Education Language Arts and Foreign Languages in 1963. Alena taught in Winnsboro, LA before moving to Saginaw, MI in 1964. Upon arrival to Michigan, Alena utilized her educational background and detail-oriented talents while working in the Records Department at St. Mary’s hospital before becoming the first black full-time teacher at Saginaw High School. She taught French and English Literature and was the Foreign Language Coordinator before retiring in 2001 after 37 years of service in the Saginaw Public Schools. While at Saginaw High School, she also initiated and led several organizations which promoted exposure to various cultures and national and international monuments for the overall educational enrichment of young minds. She further supported the importance of education through her membership in and involvement with the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa. She was a faithful member of the Gamma Kappa Chapter. Alena also earned a Master of Arts degree in Secondary Education Supervision and Administration from Michigan State University in 1971, 60 hours towards a Doctorate in Secondary Education at Michigan State University and was licensed by the State of Michigan as an Administrator in Secondary Education in 1995. Alena’s peaceful, nurturing, entrepreneurial and assertive spirit further expanded her love for life and helping others. She founded several businesses: We Love Kids, Inc., Twin Travel travel agency and NASB Ventures. She was a published author of children’s books. She was a gifted real estate consultant who blessed many lives through several offices – finishing her career with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Alena was also the Project Coordinator for and a top community volunteer through Weichert Realtors for the CAN Academy and Covenant Kids. Her leadership and involvement with and through many businesses and roles was always driven by her strong foundation and faith in God. Alena’s impact was far-reaching. While she was the loving rock of the family, an exceptional educator with over 37 years in education, an author, businesswoman, real estate consultant, community volunteer and friend, her greatest accomplishment was becoming a Christian and living her every moment with God in her heart. She lived her life with God first and leaves a legacy of faith, love, sense of community, self-worth, self-respect, and the challenge to all to be nothing less than the best. From her union with David Neal, Sr. she leaves to cherish her memory, four devoted children – three daughters and one son: Brenda C. Young (Saginaw, MI); David Neal, Jr. (Freeland, MI); Angela A. Neal (Carrollton, TX); Alysa A. (Darrell) Rickman (Flower Mound, TX). She also leaves 10 grandchildren: Monica A. Neal (Plano, TX), ShyEllis DeJuan Cooper (Denton, TX), Alan Cooper (Saginaw, MI); LaTanya Comer (Saginaw, MI), David John Neal (Baton Rouge, LA); Jeremiah Nealson Lewis (Carrollton, TX); Alaina Rickman and Dalaina Rickman (Flower Mound, TX), Nia Rickman (Atlanta, GA) and Matthew Rickman (Hoover, AL); 2 great-grandchildren: Hope Brielle Hardy (Saginaw, MI), Jenis Neal (Monroe, LA); her beloved mother: Onnie Bell Skipper (Wisner, LA); one sister: Pearlena Wallace (West Palm Beach, FL); one brother: Louis Skipper (Monroe, LA); special nieces: Vivian Keys-Brown (Wisner, LA), Kim Skipper-Davis (Monroe, LA); a Godson: Timothy Allen (Kalamazoo, Michigan); a Goddaughter: Breyana Allen (Kalamazoo, Michigan); a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and dear brotherly friend Rev. Roosevelt Austin, Sr. Alena was preceded in death by her father, Louis Skipper, Sr. and a grandson, Anthony DeJuan Cooper. Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Wolverine State Headquarters, 615 South Jefferson Avenue. Pastor Rodrick Smith, Pastor and Emeritus Roosevelt Austin will officiate interment will be in Holly Grove Cemetery in Wisner, LA.. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. Ms. Alena Neal will be taken to Richardson & Sims Funeral Home, 903 Gum Street, Winnsboro, LA 71295 (318) 435-3584. Funeral service will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2017 at Holly Grove Baptist Church, 5073 Hwy 562, Wisner, LA 71378.

Ms. Alena Neal

March 28, 1939 - January 21, 2017