The Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Homes are family owned and operated. For 4 generations they have served Arkansas families, beginning with Harvey Midkiff Sr. his son Gordan Midkiff, Bob Neal and now Richard and Michael Neal. After his father’s death in 1973, Bob and his wife Brenda opened their first funeral home in 1974. At the time Bob was the youngest funeral home owner in the state of Arkansas. During their 35 years of business, they have purchased and established three other funeral homes.
Robert J. “Bob” Neal is a 1965 graduate of Dallas Institute – Gupton Jones Mortuary College and holds Embalmers/Funeral Directors licenses in Arkansas and Missouri. He is a licensed Insurance Agent, a pre-need counselor, President of Neal & Sons, LTD, a member of the Brinkley Rotary Club, Brinkley Masonic Lodge, and the First United Methodist Church. For the past 28 years he has served as coroner for Monroe County and was selected as Brinkley 2007 Citizen of the Year. He and Brenda have three children, Jamye Landis, Richard, and Michael Neal and nine grandchildren.
Brenda Brewer Neal is a 1965 graduate of Brinkley High School, a license Funeral Director, Insurance Agent, pre-need counselor, Secretary/Treasurer of Neal & Sons, LTD and a member of the First United Methodist Church. She attends Eastern Arkansas Community College, where she is working to obtain a degree in Business Management. Brenda overseas the financial aspect of the business and manages the computer generated program for all four locations. She specializes in the area of memorial folders of the deceased, and presents a complete obituary uniquely designed for each family they serve.
Richard Neal is a graduate of Marvell Academy, and a 1991 graduate of Northwest Mississippi Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science. He is an Arkansas licensed Embalmer/Funeral Director, an Arkansas Licensed Insurance Agent, a pre-need counselor, and has served as Conway County Coroner for the past 10+ years. He served as a Morrilton Volunteer Fireman for 10 years, and is commissioner and past chairman of the Morrilton Airport Commission, a board member of the 100 proof Teenage Alcohol Awareness Program, certified cremationist and crematory operator.
Michael Kent Neal is a 2001 graduate of Northwest Mississippi Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science. He is an Arkansas licensed Embalmer/Funeral Director, a Licensed Insurance Agent, a pre-need counselor, and has served as Monroe County Deputy Coroner for 14 years, Deputy Sheriff & Brinkley Fireman for the past 10 years. In February, 2008 he became a Wildlife Officer for the Arkansas Game and Fish. He still works for the funeral home and serves as its Vice President. Michael is married to Donna Pressler and they are the proud parents of three girls, Kentlee, Kali & Kooper.
Joyce Hunt Greenfield Salley became a part of the Bob Neal & Sons Family in June of 1997. She is a licensed insurance agent, a pre-need counselor, an Arkansas licensed Funeral Director and serves as our office manager at Bob Neal & Sons-Brinkley.
Born and raised in Hunter, Arkansas, which is a farming community 15 miles north of Brinkley, Joyce is the daughter of the late Ray and Maggie Hunt. She graduated from Brinkley High School in 1965 and made her home in Little Rock for 25 years before returning to Brinkley.
Joyce has two daughters, Janice Carter and husband John of Greenbrier, Jennifer and husband Tom Bailey of Royalton, MN and their children, Peighton, Ryan and Logan, and shares her husband Jerry’s four children and 6 grandchildren.
As a young girl Joyce experienced the loss of her siblings and mother in a car/train accident, later the death of her brother and then her father, she has an understanding of the grief that comes with the loss of a loved one. This has enabled her to serve our families with a special love and compassion.
Sheilda Guest Bearden has been part of our funeral home family since 1994. She is a licensed funeral director, licensed insurance agent, a pre-need counselor and manager of Bob Neal & Sons-Brickell Funeral Home in Marvell.
Sheilda was born in Marvell, AR to the late James and Lucille Guest and was one of eight children. She graduated from Marvell High School in 1975 and was married to Larry Bearden on October 17, 1975. They were blessed with two daughters. Sheilda’s oldest daughter, Lana Williams, her husband Michael and their daughter Kinsley Mika live in Ward, Arkansas. The youngest daughter, Lisa Hager and husband Josh live in Jonesboro. She is a member of the County Line Missionary Baptist Church.
As a child of 5, Sheilda attended a funeral with her parents. She was fascinated with the funeral directors in their black suits and decided that was what she wanted to do when she grew up. When her children were older, she asked Charlie Brickell if she could go to work at the funeral home. At the time Mr. Brickell didn’t need any help but she kept coming back. When the Neal’s bought the funeral home in 1994 Sheilda came to the office and applied once again. As they say the rest is history.
On January 26, 2001 tragedy struck the Bearden family when Larry fell from a tower at their home in Aubrey. He passed away on the way to the hospital. Out of her grief, she ministers to our families with a special understanding. Her easy-going ways and sweet personality helps her assist families during their most trying times.
Mary Evelyn Tipton joined the staff of Bob Neal & Sons-Clarendon in November of 2000. She holds the position of office manager and is a licensed insurance agent. A kind and soft-spoken lady, Evelyn cares for our families with much love and compassion.
A daughter of the late Melvin and Mildred Joshlin She is the fifth child, of seven, born to her parents. She lived all of her childhood years in Brinkley and is a 1968 graduate of Brinkley High School.
Evelyn is the wife of Richard Tipton and they are the parents of two daughters, Courtney Monterusso and husband Tony of Belleville IL and Robin Clark and husband Chase of Harrison, MT and 6 grandchildren.
Evelyn is a member of the Brinkley Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as a Sunday school teacher, auxiliary secretary, choir member and sponsor of The Next Generation youth group. She is also a member of the Clarendon Lions Club and the Monroe County Humane Society of which she is secretary.
Darlene Wilkerson began work as office manager for Bob Neal & Sons Funeral-Morrilton Funeral Service in April of 2007. Born in Wichita, Kansas, Darlene is a twin daughter of Norma Jean Proctor and the late Donald Dean Keeling. She is one of five children and recently experienced her greatest loss when her twin sister, Arlene passed away on March 10, 2008.
Darlene has two children, a son, Michael who works for the Morrilton Police Department and Tonya who is a mother and a homemaker. She is blessed with two grandchildren Hanna and Ana Ray. Her hobbies are reading, crocheting and flying. But what she loves most is spending time with her grandbabies.
