Joyce Ann McNeil was born March 24,1954 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ms. McNeil was born to the late R.F "Sarge" McNeil and Corine Wilder-McNeil. She passed on November 6th, 2022, at McLeod Hospital.

Ms. McNeil attended Wilson High School and graduated in 1972 as Salutatorian. She was well accomplished in her time at Wilson High as Miss Wilson, Miss Congenial, National Honor Society, and Ella M. Beck Award to name a few. In 1991, she graduated from Francis Marion College as summa cum laude. Upon graduation Ms. McNeil went on to begin her career as an educator, beginning at North Vista Elementary.

Ms. McNeil spent most of her professional career as a passionate and dedicated educator. Anyone that knew her knew that she was the first to open up the school and the last to close it. She had a passion for empowering students to believe in themselves and their capabilities. A few of the schools she worked at were Spaulding Middle School, J Paul Truluck Middle School, Lake City Middle School, Moore Intermediate School, and Sneed Middle School to name a few. She retired as an educator in 2018. After retirement, her passion for loving and serving others continued, whether that was cooking meals for the elder, tutoring, or mentoring young teachers. Most recently, she spent time at Medical Plaza Family Medicine as a clerical associate, where she continued to find ways to love and serve everyone she encountered. Anyone that knew Joyce Ann McNeil knew she loved a good laugh, music, fried chicken, and family.

Family was the pride and joy of Ms. McNeil, especially her daughter, Melanie Spears, and grandson, Marcus D. Crawford. She leaves to cherish her memory forever; her devoted former husband and  friend, Tommy Spears; mother-in-law, Eva B. Spears; step-mother; Vivian McNeil of Augusta, GA; four sisters and two brothers: Carol McNeil-Boyd, Angela McNeil, and Debra McNeil all of Atlanta, GA, Rita Bing (Howard Callaway) and Robert McNeil both of Florence, SC, Anthony McNeil of Augusta, GA; childhood best friend Mamie Richardson-McDanei; nine nieces Melba Young, Tabitha Thompson, Chance Burch, Ranada Bing, Carin Spears, Keyon James, Nikita Alford, Quamecia Briggs, and Latoya Poole; five nephews Michael Boyd, Jane Michael Burch, Brian James, Kevin Spears, and Quentin Spears; and numerous other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family is accepting donations to go towards the Joyce McNeil B.E.E Scholarship. The funds from this scholarship will be rewarded to three high school females in good academic standing looking to attend the university of their choice, majoring in education or science. Donations will be accepted at https://gofund.me/b0973f9f