Sandhills_Sentinel

Ann Jordan McNeill, 89, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, died Jan. 17, at her home in Aberdeen surrounded by loved ones, after living a full, wonderful and love-filled life.

Ann was born Feb. 25, 1929, in Wilmington, N.C., the daughter of Paul R. Jordan and Mary Rivenbark Jordan. Ann, her parents and her brother, Paul Jr., faithfully attended Sunday School and church at Pearsall Memorial Presbyterian Church in Wilmington.

Her cousin, Virginia Dare Safrit, was like a sister to Ann. Virginia Dare used to say that Ann’s middle name was “Go” – as in Ann Go Jordan – because Ann had lots of energy, enjoyed going places and was always on the go.

Extremely active in 4-H, first as a camper and later as a counselor, Ann credited 4-H with helping develop her leadership skills and confidence as a public speaker.

In high school, Ann played the clarinet in the ROTC band and felt she benefited from the band’s military discipline. She graduated from New Hanover High School in 1947.

Ann attended Flora Macdonald College in Red Springs from 1947 to 1951. She was elected president of the freshman class, and voted “Best All Around” her junior year. Ann graduated in 1951, with a degree in Elementary Education.

Had Ann grown up in a different time, she would have become a minister. In the early 1950s, however, there were no women ministers in the Presbyterian Church. No women were church officers. So Ann chose to attend the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (PSCE) in Richmond.

In 1953, Ann earned her Master’s in Christian Education from PSCE (later merged with Union Theological Seminary and is now Union Presbyterian Seminary). She was elected the permanent class president for the Class of 1953.

In the summer of 1953, Ann returned to Red Springs as Director of Christian Education at the Red Springs Presbyterian Church.

She married the love of her life, Frank Alexander McNeill of Aberdeen, at Pearsall Memorial Presbyterian Church on March 31, 1955. They were blessed with four children: Frank Alexander Jr., David Jordan, Mary Catherine, and Laurie Ann.

In 1962, Ann’s mother came to live with the McNeills in Aberdeen. She was a joy and a blessing for the entire family, and lived with them until her death in 1978, at age 91.

Ann served as the Den Mother when Frank Jr. and David were in Cub Scouts. With their mother’s encouragement in the following years, both Franke and David became Eagle Scouts.

Ann was the librarian at Aberdeen High School for its last three years, 1966 to 1969, and at Pinecrest High School for its first 12 years, 1969 to 1981.

At Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen, Ann was a member of the Upper Room Sunday School Class, and as time went by she began teaching the class. Ann was ordained as a Deacon and as a Ruling Elder. She served as the Clerk of Session. She sang in the Bethesda choir for several decades.

From 1995 to 2015, Ann served as a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina, preaching in churches when ministers were away on vacation.

Ann served as Moderator to the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina. She served on several Presbytery committees, most recently the committee on ministry. She served on the Board of Trustees for Scotia Village (Laurinburg) and Presbyterian Homes, Inc. (High Point).

She was a member of the Cardinal Book Club, and joyfully led the program at the club’s recent meeting Jan. 3. She was a member of the Moore County Retired School Personnel and Alpha Delta Kappa teacher’s sorority for more than 35 years.

In 2015, she received an Honorary Life Membership, a national honor, by the Presbyterian Women of Presbyterian Church USA. In 2017, Ann received the Charlie Berger Award from Bethesda Presbyterian Church for her lifetime of service to the church.

Ann loved to travel, especially family trips as the children were growing up. In later years, Frank and she enjoyed global travel, with Scotland a favorite destination. On March 31, 2018, Ann and Frank celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.

Ann is survived by her husband, Frank; her children Frank Jr. (Susan), David (Caprice), Mary K. (Richard Darby), Laurie (Lisa Gollihue); six grandchildren (Morgan, Meredith, Jonathan, Aubrey, Katherine, and Lillian Quinn), three great-grandchildren (Triston, Joseph, and Henry); a niece (Anna Jordan Mullings) and nephew (Paul R. Jordan III) along with many McNeill nieces and nephews.

A visitation is 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 20, at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21 at Old Bethesda Cemetery in Aberdeen. A funeral service celebrating Ann’s life will immediately follow at 11 a.m. at Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen. Lunch will be served in the church’s fellowship hall after the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 1002 N. Sandhills Blvd., Aberdeen, NC 28315.

On line condolences can be made to www.bolesfuneralhome.com

Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

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