Doris Jeanette McNeil was born to the late William McClendon McNeil and Hester Gentry McNeil on
November 7, 1932, in Austin County Shelby, Texas. She was the fifth of nine children. She departed
this life on May 14, 2021, in Dallas, Texas.
Doris was baptized at an early age at County Line Missionary Baptist Church in Shelby, TX. She lived
there as a littler girl and afterwards moved with her family to Fort Bend County to Kendleton, Texas.
There she became a member of Little Zion Baptist Church where she sang in the choir. A few years
after graduating Powell Point High School, she moved to Dallas, Texas in 1953. She became a
member and a member of the choir of Greater New Bethel Baptist Church, the church her uncle, the
late Reverend R.C. McNeil Sr founded. She remained a member for over thirty years.
Doris was a hard worker, took pride in her work and reputation and did not believe in doing anything
without giving her best no matter how large or how small the task. She had many passions including
serving in the church, singing, and acting. As many can attest, she also loved her family dearly and
she loved people. To feed her desire to help people, she pursued a career in nursing in the early 1970's
and would serve in this capacity for approximately thirty years until she retired to spend time with and
be a caretaker for her young grandchildren, who affectionately call her Nana. Despite her many
accomplishments, if you asked her what her biggest accomplishment was, she would say raising her
two boys as a single parent and witnessing their accomplishments.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father Hester and William McNeil, four sisters, Ella Mae
Logan, Nesbitt McNeil, Lillie Bratcher, Wylene Henderson and two brothers, George McNeil and Dr.
John W. McNeil Sr.
Doris is survived by her loving sons, Darryl O. Hall (Estrellita Lefall Hall) and Bernard T. Shaw, five
grandchildren, Dr. Delandrea "Dee" Serita Hall PhD, Corey Duward Hall (Ashley Dickerson Hall),
Devin Orlando Hall, Alexandria "Alex" Jeanette Simon-Shaw and Jared Thaddeus Bernard Shaw, two
great grandchildren, Caleb Aston Hall and Cannon Atticus Hall, sister Hester Watkins, brother
Lawrence McNeil Sr., sister-in-law Juanita McNeil and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.