Eugene "Gene" Ottis Neville Jr.

Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Eugene “Gene” O. Neville, Jr. went home to Jesus on January 17, 2019 after a short illness. Gene was born on August 10, 1940 in Statesboro, Georgia to Eugene O. and Elizabeth Nowell Neville. He graduated from Statesboro High School in 1959. Gene earned a BBA in business management from Georgia Southern College. In 1966 he completed his studies at Georgia Military Institute and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. After completing his branch course in Infantry, Airborne and Ranger training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was ordered to Fort Gordon, Georgia where he served with the 1st Basic Combat Training Brigade as the training officer. Subsequently, Gene was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the Republic of Vietnam and served as Battalion Recon Platoon Leader and Assistant Operations Officer. His military awards and decorations include three Bronze Star Medals, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, the Legion of Merit award and various other campaign service ribbons. After serving many positions in the Army, his service culminated with his assignment as Deputy Garrison Commander at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he retired in 1990 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

After a successful military career which spanned more than 26 years, Gene retired from the army. The next step in his professional career was serving as Human Resources Manager at Claude Howard Lumber Company in Statesboro. In 1994 Gene co-founded Industry Buyers Group, a non-profit organization serving as a healthcare purchasing alliance to over 130 businesses throughout the South Georgia region. Gene served as chairman of the volunteer board of directors.

Gene is a long time member of the Statesboro First United Methodist Church. He served as the 1998 Chairman of the United Way where he led the organization to exceed its annual fundraising goal by more than $25,000. From 1996 to 1998, Gene served on the Statesboro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as the Industry Committee Chair. Gene served on the board of Ogeechee Technical Institute. He served as President of the Statesboro-Ogeechee District Employer Committee in 1998 and 1999. Gene was a recipient of the Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Award in 1998 for his unselfish service to the people of Bulloch County Georgia.

Gene married Natalie Parrish Neville in 1964. In addition to being a devoted soldier and businessman, Gene cherished his family and friends. He was an avid outdoor sportsman, golfer and could be found most Saturdays in the fall cheering on his beloved Georgia Southern Eagles. Among the numerous examples of support for Georgia Southern are his many years contributing to A Day for Southern and his membership in the 1906 Society.

Gene is survived by his wife, Natalie Parrish Neville, sons, Parrish (Samantha) Neville of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Rawls (Kimberly) Neville of Statesboro; brothers, Phillip (Susan) Neville of Loganville, Georgia and Don Neville of Statesboro; a sister, Lenora (John) Neville Dimling of Duluth, Georgia; and seven grandchildren, Brantley Neville, Priscilla Neville, Bethany Neville, Sarah Natalie Neville, Wayne Neville, Kennedy Neville and Caroline Neville.

A gathering of family and friends will be held 4:00 to 7:00 PM Saturday, January 19, 2019 in Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Sunday, January 20, 2019 in Statesboro First United Methodist Church with Reverend Jimmy Cason officiating.

The burial will follow in Brooklet City Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be nephews and cousins.

Please visit our online memorial at www.hodgesmoore.com to sign the guest book and share fond memories with the Neville family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Statesboro First United Methodist Church “ACTS” (Area Christians Together Serving), P.O. Box 2048, Statesboro, GA 30459 or Food Bank, Inc., 400 Donnie Simmons Way, Statesboro, GA 30458.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.