Obituary of Loraine Southall Nealey

Loraine Southall Nealey went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 2, 2014. She was born on March 20, 1933 to Mr. Isham Southall and Eliza Sampson in El Maton, Texas. Loraine received Christ at an early age and attended Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Markham, Texas. She was raised by her grandparents, Jack and Lucy Harrison, and largely influenced by her aunt, Pearl Jones (Totsie). Loraine joined Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church remained a faithful member for over 40 years until her death. She was a graduate of Hilliard High School in 1949. The “almighty 49ers” were a close knit group of friends. Loraine always remained an active member of the Houston Chapter of the Hilliard Alumni Association. After high school, she attended Prairie View A&M University (PVU) from 1949 until 1953 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Loraine was an active PVU Alumni member and believed in giving back to the university. While attending PVU, she also met her husband, James E. Green, whom she married in 1957. To this union, two children were born, Vincent Edward Green and Tammi Green Smith. She started her teaching career in El Maton, Texas. After teaching for 3 years in the Bay City area, she and her husband moved to Houston. Loraine specialized in Elementary Education and worked at Gregory, Mading and Montgomery Elementary schools. She loved teaching and served as a mentor for many new and upcoming professionals. Loraine taught citizenship, respect for self and others and moral values. She led by example and demonstrated great leadership. Her career spanned 43 years and she loved every minute of it. In 1970, Loraine married Leslie A. Nealey. To this union, one daughter, Traci Nealey, was born. Leslie preceded her in death in 2006. Loraine was a strong and focused woman that believed that she could do anything through Christ who strengthened her. She befriended many people. To know her was to love her. She was very loyal to all of her friends… and there were many. Loraine had unconditional love for her children. They were her life. In her retirement years, she enjoyed traveling, working in her yard and celebrating with family and friends. She leaves to mourn, one son, Vincent Green; two daughters, Traci Nealey and Tammi Smith (Lawrence); two grandsons, Lawrence Smith and Byron Green; and one great grandson, Byron “BJ” Green II. Loraine also leaves a host of family and close friends; namely, Wilma Jean Criswell, March Tramble, Maxine Curvey, Nathalia Binder, Henry Bush, Naomi Edison and Robbie Johnson – her true friends. A visitation and wake service will be held on Friday, August 8, 2014 at Clayton Funeral Home, 5530 W. Broadway, Pearland, Texas 77581. The visitation will take place from 6:00 until 8:00 pm with the wake service beginning at 7:00 pm with Rev. Aaron Binder officiating. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 10:00 am at Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church, 7817 Calhoun Road, Houston, Texas 77033 with Rev. Max Miller officiating. Interment will follow at Houston Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Pearland, Texas.