Charles Lee Neely

Charles Lee Neely October 19, 1959 - December 1, 2009 WARM SPRINGS, GA— Charles Lee Neely, 50, of Warm Springs, died Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at Columbus Hospice. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 4, 2009 at Manchester First Baptist Church with interment in Meriwether Memory Gardens according to Cox Funeral Home, Manchester. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. this evening at the funeral home. Mr. Neely was born October 19, 1959 in Manchester, the son of Roy Elmer Neely, Sr. and Eleanor Strickland Neely. He was the youngest of four children and lived most of his childhood in Manchester. Charles was an Eagle Scout and the recipient of the Scout's God and Country Award. He graduated from Manchester High School in 1977 where he played football for the Blue Devils. He earned his degree in Business Management from Columbus College graduating in 1981. He married Beth Smith Neely in 1981 and they established their home in Warm Springs. Charles was a member of Manchester First Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, choir member and on numerous committees over the years. He served as President of Georgia Health Care which owned and operated Royal Elaine Nursing Home in LaGrange until it was sold in 1998. Charles was a licensed Nursing Home Administrator and worked at Royal Elaine in various roles becoming administrator in 1993. In 1999, he purchased and operated The Oil Drop and Stewart Tire until they were sold. In 2004, Charles and his wife purchased Manchester Feed and Seed from the Stone family and moved the business to a newly constructed building now known as Manchester Farm Garden and Hardware. He was elected to the Meriwether County Board of Commissioners in 1994, 2002 and 2006 where he has served as chairman for the past three years. For more than 25 years, he and his family have volunteered for the Operation Good Neighbor and Empty Stocking Programs. Charles was a former member of the Manchester Kiwanis Club, the Lions Club, the Board of Trustees at Flint River Academy and was a graduate of Leadership Meriwether. He was preceded in death by his parents as well as a sister, Isabelle Elaine Neely and a brother, Roy Elmer Neely, Jr. Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Beth Smith Neely of Warm Springs; three daughters, Lauren Elizabeth Neely of Manchester, Brittany Neely Carroll and her husband Keith of Pine Mountain, Shannon Elaine Neely of Manchester; special in-laws, Jeff and Kay Smith of Woodland, Julie and Ashley Williams of North Augusta, SC; a sister, Julie Boatwright and her husband Mike of Manchester; nieces, Jamie and Jennifer Boatwright of Manchester, Kristen Williams of Charleston, SC, Morgan Williams of North Augusta, SC; nephew, Jeffrey Williams of North Augusta; canine friend, Tina and many, many good friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Charles may be made to Columbus Hospice, 7020 Moon Rd., Columbus, GA 31907 or the Kellum Vision Fund at Manchester First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 528, Manchester, GA 31816.