Thomas Francis Neal, Jr, best known as Tom, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026, at his home on St Simons Island surrounded by family after a short fight with an aggressive cancer. A memorial service will be held on May 2,2026 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Brunswick, Georgia.

He was known during his 85 years old as a loving and kind son, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and friend. His life modeled the guidance of his namesake, St Francis to share the gospel with everyone and if necessary, use words.

Tom was born in Millen, Georgia on June 26, 1940, to Thomas Francis Neal and Miriam Angie Mulkey. He attended Jenkins County High School, played football, ran track, and became an Eagle Scout.

Tom went on to the University of Georgia where he became a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and lifetime Bulldog. He earned a BA in Business in 1962. During his four years in Athens, he met and fell in love with Theresa Harriet Parker of Atlanta, and following graduation the two were married in1962. They enjoyed 53 years of marriage together until her passing in 2015.

He was commissioned into the Navy eventually earning the rank of Lt. Commander. He served on Adak Island, Alaska where their first son was born, and aboard the USS Little Rock in the Mediterranean followed from port to port by Harriet in a VW Beetle full of other officer’s wives.

Tom and Harriet settled in Atlanta and raised their two sons, Franc and Wesley. Tom forged a career in real estate finance with Atlanta Federal Savings, Great American Mortgage Investors, and for the last 20 years at Fannie Mae.

Tom retired to the coastal islands of Georgia in 2005 and spent much of his last two decades watching sunsets over the marsh and traveling the world.

In 2022, Tom married Brenda Thrower Parker of Brunswick Georgia, and they built a happy life together on St Simons. Brenda’s large family adopted Tom, and the two were inseparable until his final breaths.

Tom is survived by his wife Brenda, his sons, Thomas Francis Neal, III (Franc) of Dubai, UAE and Wesley Parker Neal of Washington, DC; grandchildren Zachariah Parker Neal of Santa Monica California, Elizabeth Paxson Neal of Atlanta, Lindsay Newbold Neal and Parker Roberts Neal of Washington, DC; and daughters-in-law, Cynthia Jones Neal and Marina McClellend. He will be greatly and profoundly missed by them all.

“The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done. From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of the Golden Isles.

Brunswick Memorial Park Funeral Home is honored to have assisted the Neal family.