Martha Lillian McNeill was born in Charleston, South Carolina on Sunday, January 18, 1925. She died on Sunday, September 15, 2024. The daughter of Sarah Frasier McNeill and Samuel Matthew McNeill, she was the youngest of six children. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Dorothy and Rose, and by her brothers, William, Frank and Leonard.

Known as Lillian throughout her life, she was affectionately known to her grandchildren as Big Momma, Booski, Gramps, Grandma Lillie, Monkey Face, GG (Gigi), Honey Bunny, Okra Soup, Miss Lolly, Mother McNeill and Lollian. She was educated in the Charleston public schools. As an adult she joined the Greater Middleton Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church (formerly known as Saint Phillip AME Church). Thought of as Greater Middleton Chapel's Spiritual Mother, Sister McNeill worked tirelessly for over 50 years in many capacities. Among them were: Sunday School Superintendent/Teacher, Church Clerk, a member of the Usher Board, the Steward Board, the Lay organization and the Willing Workers Club. Always willing to recite a poem, she was dubbed our "First Lady of Poetry."

To support her family, Lillian worked at the American Tobacco Company (the Cigar Factory) for thirty years until it closed in 1973. Too young to retire, she received food service training and worked as a Dietician at Roper Hospital. After leaving Roper Hospital, she worked for several families and developed lifelong relationships with those families. She concluded her work career as a receptionist, first at the Cannon Street YMCA, The Association of the Blind, and finally at the Ansonborough House on Society Street.

Over the years, Lillian received many awards. Her family and friends received not only her support, but her talents, and determination. Both loving and driven, she encouraged her family to always do their best as she stressed the importance of faith, education, commitment, showing up, and keeping one's word. She also served as the family historian for the Stanley component of our family.

Long life offers many blessings. Over the years, her family has been able to recognize and celebrate her very special gifts with plaques, birthday celebrations, and "Just Because We Love You" tokens of appreciation. In addition, she was also publicly recognized in 2012 with an article in Skirt magazine's Living History Section for her work in helping neighbors in her community to pass literacy tests enabling them to register to vote. Later that year, Lillian was honored in Columbia, South Carolina at a "Living Legend" award ceremony for these same efforts.

In 2015, the twins, Lillian and Leonard, celebrated their 90th birthday and received a proclamation by then Mayor Joseph Riley proclaiming January 18, 2015, as a day of celebration for Charleston's most beloved twins.

In 2017, a new chapter in Lillian's life began when health issues required her to leave her beloved Charleston to relocate to Moncks Corner. In Moncks Corner, she joined her daughter, Rita, at the Moncks Corner Baptist Church where she became a member under watch care. Over the years she has grown to love and enjoy her new church family.

Lillian was also preceded in death by three daughters, Brenda C. McNeill, Madeline McNeill Davis, and Jacqueline L. McNeill. She leaves her remaining six children to cherish her memories: Clarence (Nancy), Sandra (Wilhelm), Gwendolyn, Rita, Gloria, and Eric (Gail). She also leaves nineteen grandchildren, a host of great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, five nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

A viewing will be held Friday, September 20, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Moncks Corner Baptist Church, 496 East Main Street, Moncks Corner, SC. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at Moncks Corner Baptist Church. (The processional will begin at 10:45 a.m.) Entombment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 2915 Ashley Phosphate Road, North Charleston, SC.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Burke High School Graduating Class of 1959 Scholarship Fund, c/o Ruthie Rock, Class Treasurer, 191 Darcy Ave. Goose Creek, SC 29445.

Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.