Mr. Haywood Dawson Neal

Mr. Haywood Dawson Neal, 86, of Tifton died Friday, April 22, 2016. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Kimbrell-Stern with visitation to be held one hour prior to the service at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery with Rev. Wayne Roe to officiate. A native of Columbus, GA., Mr. Neal was also a former resident of Albany, GA., New Symrna Beach, FL., and Cordele, GA. Mr. Neal had lived in Tifton, GA., for the last eight years where he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Tifton, and the Woodruff-Beard Men's Sunday School class. Mr. Neal was also a member of the Gideon's International organization in the Sylvester, Cordele and Tifton camps. Mr. Neal was a self-made businessman. Having only a formal education up to the eighth grade, Mr. Neal went on to be a very successful entrepreneur and was able to retire in his forties. Before then he served in the United States Navy fighting for his country in the Korean War. After the Navy, Mr. Neal went on to be involved in many business ventures including grocery, appliance, and hardware stores and eventually landed in the furniture business where he was the owner and operator of Railway Freight Salvage Company in Albany, GA. Since then, Railway Freight has operating stores in Americus, Tifton and Cordele areas that are owned and operated by family members. He married his wife, Polly Neal, whom he originally met in the fourth grade, on January 3, 1953. They went on to have a fulfilled life of raising two daughters along with hard work, adventures, and a thirst for Christ. Mr. Neal was also an avid horseman who bought, sold, traded, and showed Walking/Racking horses as a favorite hobby. Mr. Neal enjoyed the water and was able to have homes in the Lake Blackshear area and New Symrna Beach, FL. His main joy was providing for his family, friends, siblings, nieces, nephews and grandchildren places to enjoy life to be together and create memories. After the death of his beloved wife, Mr. Neal went on to enjoy the companionship of his fiancee, Ms. Margie Coleman. They were involved in church, family and friends for the last seven years and enjoyed life to the fullest. Mr. Neal most precious pastime was his love of Jesus Christ and spreading the gospel through his Gideon ministry. Survivors include his fiancé, Margie Coleman of Tifton, two daughters, Merry K. Nielsen and her husband, Eric of DeBary, FL and Barbara Mullinax and her husband, J. of Tifton, GA, five grandchildren, Jay Brimberry and his wife, Breanna, Sara Nielsen, Caroline Nielsen, Hayden Mullinax and Katherine Mullinax, one great grandchild, Maxwell Dawson Nielson, one sister, JoAnn Garrett and her husband, Bob of Anderson, SC, one brother, Edward Neal of Columbus, GA, two sisters in law, Kay W. Metcalfe of Macon, GA and Mary Lee Seagraves Neal of Albany, GA and numerous nieces and nephews. Those desiring may make memorials to Gideon’s International, PO Box 7051, Tifton, GA 31793 or Hospice of Tift Area, 618 N. Central Ave., Tifton, GA 31794. To share your thoughts with the Neal family you may visit our website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Mr. Haywood Dawson Neal

November 12, 1929 - April 22, 2016