Marjorie Bailey Neal, age 87 was summoned to her eternal home on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. Marjorie was born in Washington, DC to William and Maude Laney Bailey and was the last of the Bailey Eight brothers and sisters.
Marjorie was educated in the public schools of Washington, DC graduating from Dunbar High School in 1952. Her school friends loved her intelligence and sense of humor which was on full display at her 50th high school reunion event in 2002.
Shortly after graduating, she went to work as a dental assistant for Dr. Eugene Sills. She remained with Dr. Sills as a valuable asset to his practice for over 30 years serving as a dental assistant, lab technician, receptionist and bookkeeper. She also worked for Eddie Neal, President, The Scientex Corporation based in Arlington, VA.
Anyone who knew Marjorie was aware of her great love of children. After her many years working alongside many Washington area dentists, she was able to work in childcare and indulge her passion and love of children. She worked at the Thurgood Marshall Day Care Center and was hired away by the LeDuc family to care for their 2 daughters. All of the families she worked with greatly appreciated her capacity to love and care for their children as though they were her own. She often spoke fondly of all of the children in her care: Anna and Evie, Sandy and Theo, Moses, Anavi and Anya.
Her union with Joseph H. Neal provided her with her greatest joys in life, her own children: Sandra, Jacqueline, and Jeffrey. Majorie enjoyed nothing more than spending time with her family. Family was always her priority. She loved to be surrounded by relatives laughing and joking. She loved baking cakes and trying different food dishes to share with those she loved.
Gardening was a lifelong passion of hers and she loved trips to the nurseries around the DC area, selecting various plants and flowers. When they were young, a trip to the National Arboretum was always on the agenda and her yards were always filled with plants and flowers.
She is preceded in death by her siblings, Billie (Hall), Carl, Robert, Evelyn (Reynolds), Luther, Timothy and Ronnie.
Marjorie is survived by and will be continually missed and remembered by her children, Sandra (Neal) Thayer, Gary Thayer (son-in-law), Jacqueline Neal and Jeffrey Neal; her former husband, Joseph Neal; nieces and nephews, Marc Bailey, Lynda (Hall) Williams, Jonathan Hall, Michael Bailey, Tanya (Parker) Hill, Perita Parker, Angela Parker and Pernell Parker; cousins: Cheryl Johnson, Debra Johnson, Bette (Johnson) Wright and Sharon (Cookie) Hollingsworth and a host of other relatives and friends.
Donations can be made in memory of Marjorie B. Neal to:
Washington Youth Garden http://www.washingtonyouthgarden.org/giving
Gastric Stomach Foundation https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jacqueline-neal/marjorieneal
Black Women's Health Initiative https://bwhi.org/donate/
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