Marcus Ramon McNeil was born on February 4, 1985 in Kansas City, Missouri where he lived until 2005. His parents were Stephanie Thomas and Lonnie McNeil. He was the first child for both. Marcus attended Southeast High School and after graduating pursued a Communications degree at the historically black college Edward Waters in Jacksonville, Florida. After his freshman year, he decided to pursue a degree in Media Arts and transferred to Phoenix, Arizona to attend Collins College.
While living in Arizona, he met his wife Brishetta (Bri) in 2005. They married in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 8, 2009 and settled in Houston, TX with their children Jackson, Brooklynn (deceased) and Noelle.
Marcus was full of life and loved a good, long conversation with friends, family and often times, strangers. He was spirited, passionate, optimistic, loving and had a strong sense of humor. His laugh was infectious and he reveled in making others enjoy the moment. One of his major passions was photography. He spent hours learning different lighting techniques, shooting skills, and perfecting his craft. His favorite achievement was meeting and working with comedian D.L. Hughley.
As an avid family man, most days you could find him watching Martin and Wayans Brothers reruns with his wife, dancing with his daughter or playing basketball with his son. He never found a mirror he didn't like, so he was constantly at the gym or dancing to music in front of a mirror in his moments alone.
Marcus passed away on Friday, March 19, 2021 at the age of 36. He is preceded in death by his daughter Brooklynn McNeil, aunt Nina Ward, Uncle Wesley Walker, Uncle Edward Jerome Lee Jr., his grandmother Ruth Hazel Lee and grandfather Edward Jerome Lee.
Marcus is survived by his wife Bri McNeil, his two sons Jackson McNeil and Jaiden Brackens-McNeil, his daughter Noelle McNeil, sister Tahisha Thomas, mother Stephanie Thomas, father Lonnie McNeil, 2 nieces, 2 nephews, Aunt Mary Collins, Aunt Felicia Cline, Uncle Roman LeBlanc and a host of other family and friends.
