Joseph L. Neale

On May 25, 1924, Joseph L. Neale Sr., was born in Baltimore City from the union of Samuel Neale and Henrietta Curtis Neale. He departed this life on Monday March 1, 2004.Joseph was raised in Baltimore City, had and extreme fondness for all types of music and mastered playing the piano and learned to play several instruments. Joseph began playing the organ for different churches by the age of 13. He attended Howard University briefly then enlisted in the United States Army on November 1, 1944, serving in the Southern Philippine Liberation Campaign and was honorably discharged on December 27, 1946. Once discharged, Joseph began working for the United States Post Office where he returned to his love for music and played in the Post Office Band while he attended the Baltimore Institute of Musical Arts.On November 27, 1947, Joseph married the former Rita Carberry and out of their love for family eleven children was born. Joseph had a strong love walk with God and intertwined the love of God, family, and music into his lifetime music ministry. In the mid 1950’s while a member of Saint Edward’s R.C. Church, Joseph began directing several choirs at the church. His fondness for the singing style of the Vienna Boy’s Choir motivated him to start the St. Edward’s Boys Choir were noted for being the first group of African American Males to sing for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Charles Center Plaza, a fete unheard of during Baltimore’s turbulent racial times. His love for children, education and music motivated his writing and copyrighting of a children’s educational motivation song, “School Kid Rock and Roll,” which he taught to his children’s choirs. Over the years he changed the choir’s male specific membership to enable the participation of his own daughters. Over the last nearly fifty years, Deacon Neale’s Children’s choirs now known as the St. Edward’s voices of Freedom, has served as a musical training ground for his children, his grandchildren, and any other interested child in the parish.On January 30, 1972, Joseph was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of Baltimore at his home church of St. Edward’s where he is affectionately known as “Deacon Neale.” In January 1980, he retired from the United States Post Office. He continued his role as Permanent Deacon where he served until his mandatory retirement. Because of his strong love of God he continued to serve as Deacon, Minister of Music and Choir Director until God called him home. As a result of his service in ministry to God and in the Church, he has been given numerous honors and accolades.Deacon Neale leaves to mourn, his wife of 56 years Rita Neale, four sons, Joseph Jr., Samuel, Michael, and John; five daughters, Julia Montgomery, Catherine Neale, Rita Thomas-El, Helena Bunch and Michele Killette; one daughter-in-law, Janet Neale; two sons-in-law, Hezekiah Bunch and James Thomas-El; twelve grandchildren, three adopted grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, four adopted great-grandchildren and four sisters. Sr. Majella Neale, O.S.P., Isabelle Neale, Dorothy Neale and Catherine Thomas a lifelong friend James Larkins and a host of relatives and friends. As Joseph has been called home to be with the Lord, he will be reunited with his brother Paul, his son Gerard and his daughter Rachel who preceded him in death.

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Joseph L. Neale

May 25, 1924 - March 1, 2004