Some people would call her Ms. Edna McNeal, some would call her Peaches, some called her the Cake Lady, while others would just say Mama Peaches. No matter how you addressed her, she would always answer with a beautiful smile.

Edna McNeal was born on July 7, 1924, to Roosevelt and Annie Harmon in Aulander, North Carolina. Sister McNeal accepted Christ as her Savior at a very young age. The first church she joined was Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and later joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia. She served as a faithful member who truly loved the Lord. She enjoyed singing in the choir, serving on the usher board, and testifying. Edna was educated in the Portsmouth City public school system. She later obtained training and became a nursing assistant. Peaches was employed at Maryview Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia, where she served dutifully until she retired, 24 years later. If you asked her, “how long had she worked at the hospital?” she would tell you the exact time she worked, right on down to how many years, how many months and how many days! In her leisure time, she enjoyed helping others and spending time with her family and friends. She loved to bake her famous pound cakes. Her cakes were so delicious, they would melt into your mouth and you couldn’t help but to ask for another slice. Word got around in the community how good they were and she spent most of her time between attending church and baking cakes.

Peaches loved clothes and made sure she matched from head to toe. When I say matched, I mean, her hats, shoes, and purses had to match to the T.  From pants suits to dresses, Peaches wore her clothes well! After getting dolled up, she would look in the mirror and say, “Look at me…..ain’t I a ticket!!!” Then she would stroll away as if she was a runway model. Peaches just knew she was a Diva!

Mama Peaches was truly blessed. She was born July 7, 1924, and her room was ready on November 12, 2021, at 9:50AM. She leaves to cherish her memory two sons: Jesse Lawrence McNeal, Jr. (Donna Alexis Mason-McNeal), Bernard Gregory McNeal (Charlotte Dolores McNeal); three grandchildren: Candace, Christian, and Christopher, step grandson: Charles Mason Jr.; and three great-grandchildren: Micah, Ari, and Lena; two sisters: Margaret McDaniel (Rev. David McDaniel), Beulah Stevenson (Crawford Stevenson); two Godchildren: Irma Hilliard, Carolyn Holler; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving relatives and friends.