M.P. Neff, Jr. of Greenville, formerly of Hollandale, died on Wednesday, September 14 at his home. A service celebrating his life will be held at Trinity Community Church at 2:00 on Monday, September 19. The family will receive friends in the church parlor one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at the Hollandale Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home.
Mr. Neff was born July 15, 1926, in Catchings, Mississippi, to Lea Richardson Neff and Matthew Park Neff. He attended Catchings High School and Sunflower Junior College. He played the tenor saxophone in the band. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II and was in Tokyo Bay during the Japanese surrender. Mr. Neff was a radio operator on the destroyer, USS Myles C. Fox. This experience with radio communications led to his 62 year hobby as an Amateur Radio Operator. His call sign was KJ5V.
After returning from the war Mr. Neff moved to Arcola and began his farming career. He had farming operations in Sharkey County and Washington County. In addition to his own farming interests, he farmed with Deloach Cope in the partnership of Cope and Neff, Inc. Mr. Neff was also a partner in the Rebel Gin Company in Arcola.
Mr. Neff served on the board of the Town of Arcola. He was a member and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hollandale Consolidated School. Mr. Neff served on the Greenville Production Credit Association board and the Twin County Electric Power Association board. He was on the board of the South Washington County Hospital in Hollandale and served as the first chairman. He was also a member and past president of the Hollandale Rotary Club where he had perfect attendance for 33 years.
An active member of the Hollandale United Methodist Church for almost 50 years, Mr. Neff served on numerous church boards and committees.
Mr. Neff enjoyed golf, tennis and hunting and was a member of several hunting clubs in the Delta area. He also acquired his pilot’s license and flew his own plane.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Smith Neff; his daughter, Kay Neff Newsom (Sam) of Greenville; his son, Park Neff (Sharon) of Arcola; four grandchildren, Drew Newsom (Carolyn) of St. Petersburg, Florida, Mary Neff Newsom Stewart (John) of Greenwood, Courtney Neff Williams (TJ) of Madison, and Jennifer Neff McWilliams(Lance) of Eagle, Colorado; ten great grandchildren; and two sisters, Alice Blacklidge of Greenville and Lillian Kellum of Paducah, Kentucky.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Community Church, 850 McAllister St., Greenville, MS 38701, or a charity of choice.