Madge Elaine Neal

Madge Elaine Penley Neal closed her eyes in this world and opened them in the arms of her Lord and Savior on July 27, 2026. Mrs. Neal was born March 30, 1926, in Buncombe County, North Carolina, to the late Joseph A. and Pansy Roberts Penley, and was preceded in death by husbands Cecil Whitt, Floyd F. Wolfe, Jr., and Robert Neal; sisters Helen (Mrs. Kermit) Earp of Lenoir, NC; Henrietta (Mrs. R.W.) Jarvis of Asheville, NC; Hazel (Mrs. Ernest) Harris of Hickory, NC; Lucy (Mrs. J.D.) Boston of Lenoir, NC; Shirley Paull of Laurel, MD, and brother Donald J. Penley of East Hampton, NY; and grandson Brandon Mikeal of Hickory, NC.

She is survived by daughters, Angie (Mrs. Clyde) Graeber of Concord, NC, and Tanya (Mrs. David) Mikeal of Hickory, NC; and son, Darrell Whitt of Lenoir, NC, five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Mrs. Neal lived an active life, loved dancing and enjoyed gardening and traveling, having made four trips to Mexico, two to Europe and Great Britain and one to Canada and Iceland, as well as a cruise to Bermuda. She worked for many years in Charlotte, first at the original Charlotte Memorial Hospital, and later at Charlotte Orthopedic Clinic and Gaul Orthopedic Clinic, before relocating to Hickory, NC, where she served as church secretary at St. Stephens Lutheran Church until her retirement.

After retirement, she volunteered with Hospice of Catawba Valley for 11 years, winning

the distinction of Volunteer of the Year. Mrs. Neal also was known as Giggles the Clown, a member of Charlie’s Chaplains volunteer group whose purpose was to cheer and entertain hospital patients.

A celebration of her life will be conducted August 20, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at Lakeview Baptist Church, 4080 North Center Street in Hickory, N.C. The family will receive afterward.

Memorials may be made to Lakeview Baptist Church, 4080 North Center Street, Hickory, NC, 28601, or Viewmont Baptist Church, 1246 2nd Street Northeast, Hickory, NC, 28601.

The family extends their gratitude and appreciation to the staff at Abernethy Laurels, Newton, N.C., for their considerate care and prayers.

Condolences may be sent to the Neal family at www.drumfh-hickory.com

Drum Funeral Home in Hickory is honored to be serving the Neal family.