James Kelly Rev. Neal

He graduated from Greenville High School in 1932, played on the Greenville High School football team coached by Henry Frnka that went to the state semi finals in 1932.

He was a graduate of Austin College, Sherman, Texas in 1936 and from Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, Texas in 1939.

While attending the Seminary he met Elizabeth Fromme of Elgin, Texas who was attending the University of Texas. They were married in August of 1939.

His pastorates include: Barber Memorial Church in the oil field near Kilgore, Texas 1939-1940, Eldorado, Texas 1941-1943, San Marcos, Texas 1943-1948, Gonzales, Texas 1948-1951, Trinity Church, Houston, Texas 1951-1961 and Harlandale Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, Texas 1961-1968. He was the organizing evangelist and pastor of San Pedro Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, Texas 1968-1977.

While serving the church in San Marcos he took work at Austin Presbyterian Seminary and was awarded the first Master Degree in Theology offered by the seminary. He served as Moderator of Western Texas Presbytery now Mission, Brazos Presbytery now New Covenant and John Knox Presbytery now Mission.

He served on Committees of the General Assembly, Synod and Presbytery. He was chairman of the Christian Education of John Knox Presbytery now Mission that purchased John Knox Ranch.

He was preceded in death by his son, Harold Fromme Neal; brother, Harold Neal. Survived by his wife, Elizabeth F. Neal; daughter, Mary Helen Craft and husband, Dr. Sidney Craft, Houston, TX; son, James Kelly Neal, Jr and wife, Elizabeth; grandson, Cory M. Neal and wife, Misty; granddaughter, Avery Neal, all of San Antonio, TX; brother, Cameron Neal, Liberty Hill, TX; sister, Martha Neal Wallace, Sonora, TX.