John Ralph McNeal Jr.

John Ralph McNeal, Jr. was born in Jackson County (Moss Point), Mississippi on June 15, 1946, and passed away, surrounded by his family, on January 28, 2026, after suffering a heart attack at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

He was a true Mississippi Coast boy, growing up in Pascagoula and Moss Point. As a student at Moss Point High School, he discovered his love for music, a love that continued throughout his lifetime.

He joined his high school band in the 8th grade and was first chair drummer for the remainder of his school years. As a testimony to his talent, he was selected to play with the Mississippi Lion’s All-State Band three years in a row culminating with a final concert in France.

Friends say he played all the time. Even in class, he would practice rhythms on his desk…so much so that the teachers had to take his pencils away just to make him stop.

After winning a talent competition in Biloxi, John played at the 1964 New York’s World Fair…performing under the name The Man from Mississippi. To impress New York even more, he painted his drumsticks with fluorescent paint so that they glowed under black light. 



John also loved the guitar and played both drums and guitar with local bands and at political rallies for William Winter and others throughout the state. He played drums with the Dynamics until graduation from high school, and then years later the band reunited to become The Geezers! They still had it!

After graduating from Moss Point High School in 1964, he matriculated Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and then went to the University of Mississippi for a year.

He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1968 with a degree in science and chemistry. After a hiatus from his studies, John decided on becoming a lawyer. Three years later, he graduated from Mississippi College School of Law in 1978, where his argument won Moot Court his senior year.

John served as an Assistant Attorney General under Ed Pittman and later opened his own practice from which he retired in 2016.

If music was his first love, his passion for history was tantamount to obsession. He “metal-detected” all over the state of Mississippi for Civil War and Native American artifacts. Belt buckles, bottles, pottery, camp trash, mini balls, and arrowheads were pure gold to him.

He was planning to go “digging” just the week before going into the hospital. John always said that relic hunting was not a hobby…it was a calling!

Always the daredevil, after law school he decided to conquer the air. He began taking flying lessons at Thompson Field, and in less than 6 months he took his first solo flight…much to Sandy’s horror. Truly he turned out to be a fine pilot and flew whenever the weather gods permitted.

In 1972, he married Patricia “Sandy” Sanders, an artist, and together they formed a team where sharing their talents and love for art, music, theater, and dance became a lifelong devotion.

Through the Mississippi Arts Festivals in Jackson, Mississippi Museum of Art, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, New Stage Theatre, Jubilee Jam, International Ballet Competition, Car Park Rock (fundraiser for Mississippi Symphony), Artists’ Studio Tours, countless exhibitions, shows, and arts fundraisers, they forged a bond of love for each other as well as lifelong friendships that strengthened the artistic fabric of Mississippi.

Though they never had children, the McNeal’s were blessed with the most amazingly loving and supportive family as well as lifelong friends who became family…and you know who you are!

John was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Jackson and Sandy is a “cradle” Episcopal. They were married in June 1972 at St. Andrews Cathedral. In the late 1990’s however, Sandy and John were welcomed to First Baptist by Frank Pollard and Larry Black to help in the production of “Carols by Candlelight,” a yearly celebration of Christmas by the church. Over the “Carols” years, bonds were formed among designers, cast, choir, and crew that still exist today…a family coming together to praise God and offer prayers for peace throughout the world. St. James also holds a special place in their hearts.

John was a musician, an attorney, a land man, an historian, an arts advocate, a loving husband, a believer, and a loyal friend to all who came to know him. If his music impressed people, his love of life and gentle spirit endeared him to everyone he met. He did not hold grudges or stay angry about things he had no control over. It just was not his nature to do so.

He was a man of fair play, compassion, loyalty, intelligence, integrity and love. He always saw a glass half full and a hill that could always be conquered.

Do not mourn John’s passing, but celebrate the incredibly gifted, caring, gentle man who loved God, music, art, theater, history, family, friends, and most of all his Sandy with a strength of will that could bend steel…that he will be missed is an understatement.

Sandy sends her love to all who celebrate John with her.

A special thank you goes out to the cardiac care team, doctors, nurses, and technicians in the Cardiovascular ICU at the University Medical Center who, daily, lovingly care for their patients and their patients’ families with compassion and strength.

To his friends at Kroger Spillway and Pharmacy, John’s family sends you their sincere appreciation for the kindness you’ve shown us.

May the peace which surpasses all understanding be your comfort and refuge.

Memorials may be made wherever your heart leads.

John was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia Lott McNeal; his father, John Ralph McNeal, Sr.; his brother, Joe Ray McNeal; and his sister, Faye McNeal Keenum.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years Patricia Sandy Sanders McNeal; his brother-in-law, Brister Sanders (Emily); nephew, Adam Sanders (Brittany); niece, Rebecca Sanders; niece, Carole Jean Keenum Tagliapietra (Austin) of Nampa, Idaho; nephews, Steven Ray Keenum of Fraser Park, CA, James Kevin Keenum of Murphy, NC; and many great nieces, great nephews and cousins who hold special places in our hearts.

A visitation will be held at Parkway Funeral Home in Ridgeland from 2 to 3 p.m., Friday, February 6, 2026. Funeral and graveside services will follow visitation at Parkway Funeral Home and Memorial Cemetery.