Wendell M. Neal, Jr. - Obituary

n December 3, 2022, Wendell M. Neal, Jr., beloved son of Wendell M. Neal, Sr., and Katherine Jordan Neal, went home to be with the Lord. Wendell was born April 30, 1960, in Tuskegee, Alabama, and accompanied his parents when moving to the DMV area in the early ’70s. Wendell Jr. was an avid sports fan and a fantastic athletic growing up. Wendell grew up playing in the Pop Warner football leagues, a catcher for The Black Knights in Arlington, VA, and continued his athleticism into junior high, high school, and college at Grambling State University in Louisiana. Wendell also served in the US Army as an 82nd Airborne Ranger, combat diver, and Green Beret for which he was very proud. Along with music, history, and sports, Wendell had another passion which was the performing arts. Wendell graduated from The Georgetown Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Wendell went on to appear in several stage plays, and movies including Step Up, Dave, and a recurring role as “Stoney” on the hit television series The Wire. After being hit by the “acting bug”, of course New York became his favorite city. Wendell absolutely loved everything in New York especially Harlem and The New York Giants. Wendell is survived by a son Jordan Aaron Gene Neal of Washington State, and a sister Deidre L. Neal of Clinton, MD. On his father’s side, Wendell is survived by cousins Wendeau C. Neal, Yvette McNeil, and Derek McNeil; on his mother’s side: Aunt Mary Bigelow; Uncles: Bennie Shivers, Curtis Shivers, and James Shivers; Cousins: Gregory Shivers, Yvette Shivers, Sherita Shivers, James Michael Shivers, Rhonda Shivers, Roderick Shivers, Dealdra Parks, Vanita Shivers, and Petula Sorrell. Rest in Peace, my dear brother. I will always love you Windy and I am so very proud of you!!!