Joseph Frederick Neely

1940 - 2021

Neely, Joseph Frederick

August 27, 1940 - May 12, 2020

Joseph Frederick Neely, 80, passed away peacefully at home on May 12, 2021. Neely was born August 27, 1940 in Clinton, SC to the late Helen Lee and Woodfin Carlisle Neely. After graduating from Clinton High School, he attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and received a B.S.E.E. from the University of South Carolina. He earned an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and also served in the Air Force Reserve. Joe worked for First National Bank of Atlanta, then joined Management Science America, an early computer software firm. In 1969, He was a founding partner of Executive Control Systems, later acquired by Hanes Corp.

While in Atlanta, Joe met and married Joyce Riddle. They formed an unbreakable partnership of over 50 years, despite a somewhat unorthodox honeymoon in Kansas City with 40 women in short skirts for the national roll-out of L'eggs pantyhose. In 1970, they moved to Winston-Salem, NC, where Joe joined Hanes Corp. to work on the growth of L'eggs. He became President of L'eggs Products in 1976.

After Hanes Corp. was acquired by Sara Lee Corporation, Neely eventually moved his family to Chicago where he was a member of the corporation's Senior Management Committee and Senior Vice President of Sara Lee Personal Products, which included such well-known brands as L'eggs, Hanes, Bali, Champion, Isotoner, and Coach Leatherwear.

In 1986, Joe attended Harvard Business School's 98th Advanced Management Program where he forged lifelong, international friendships. In the following decades, he enjoyed traveling with fellow AMP98ers.

After retiring from Sara Lee, Joe co-founded a licensing and marketing company and created RayLen Vineyards and Winery. He served on the North Carolina Wine and Grape Council and NC Winegrowers Association. Neely was the Chief Executive Officer of Gold Toe Brands, Inc., a leading manufacturer of Arrow shirts and Goldtoe socks, from 2002-2006. He also served on the Board of Owens Corning.

Joe's involvement in the community included staunch support of Crosby Scholars, and serving as a member of the board of directors for the Winston-Salem Foundation, Winston-Salem Business, Inc., Reynolda House Museum of American Art, the Regional Presbyterian Home, and the North Carolina School of the Arts Foundation. He was a member of the Board of Visitors for the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University and the Board of Trustees of Old Salem, Inc. Joe chaired the United Way of Forsyth County's 1990 campaign and co-chaired the Salvation Army's 2003 capital campaign for new Boys & Girls Clubs facilities.

Joe's work life kept him busy, but he always found time for his hobbies. His early years were filled with football, Boy Scouts, and bird hunting, which led to a lifetime of boating, fishing, farming, bird watching, and collecting antique duck decoys. Later in life, Joe enjoyed spending time and sharing these interests with his grandchildren. While Joe belonged to various sporting and social clubs, his pride was his baseball cap with the Georgetown, SC "Goat Island Club" logo. Joe was a member of the Adult Bible Study class at First Presbyterian Church for over 40 years, treasuring the friends and fellowship it offered.

Neely is survived by his wife Joyce, daughters Helen Neely Pruden (Matthew), Rachel Joyce Neely Johnson (Mark), grandchildren August Joseph Pruden and Madeleine Abigail Johnson, sisters-in-law Barbara Berkley Neely and Barbara Riddle Brewton (Ernie Freda), and brothers-in-law Brad L. Riddle (Maureen) and G.H. Riddle, Jr. He is predeceased by his brother, Robert Carlisle Neely. A memorial service will be held in person on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 3:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 300 N Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC and streamed online at www.1stpres.com. Memorial donations may be made to the Joe F. Neely Memorial Scholarship Fund at Crosby Scholars, 2701 University Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC 27105; First Presbyterian Church, 300 N Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101; or the charity of one's choice. Online condolences may be sent to www.salemfh.com.

Salem Funeral & cremation Services

2951 Reynolda Road Winston-Salem, NC 27106