Thomas David McNeill
October 18, 1958 – August 15, 2017

Thomas David McNeill, 58, of Whigham, GA, passed away at Grady General Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, August 15, 2017. The family will have a memorial service at a later date.

Mr. McNeill was born on October 18, 1958, in Thomson, GA, to the late John William McNeill and Mary McClenny Meill. He liked to say that he had worked since he was 15 years old and later he attended Georgia Southwestern Technical College in Thomasville, GA, where he studied to be an electrician. He retired as a trucker and electrician. He was of the Presbyterian faith.

Mr. McNeill loved metal detecting and made many wonderful friends from all over the world and communicated with them through the computer. When he first went out to dig and in trying to stand up you could hear him say, “Whoa, my leg came off!” He was always optimistic, from the time of his foot amputation, due to diabetes, until recently when asked how he felt about his future, he laughed and said he would handle that too. He also loved working with beautiful gems to make nice jewelry.

Mr. McNeill loved his family and enjoyed the company of his young niece and nephews. He was so proud of his older nephews and his step-son.

He is survived by: his son who was so dear to him, Bill McNeill of Atlanta, GA, step-son, Jerry Hicks of Whigham, GA, who was a tremendous help during his illness; good friend, Kathy Nicholson of Whigham, GA; his mother, Mary Meill of Cairo, GA; sister, Maxcy McAteer of Cairo, GA; niece, Nicki Merritt of Whigham, GA; nephews, Jordan McAteer, Nicolas Trull, both of Cairo, GA; and other close friends and family. He was preceded in death by his father.