Ms. Paula McNeil

January 31, 1967 - January 26, 2022

Ms. Paula Renee McNeil, affectionately known as “Tweety,” was born on January 31, 1967 in San Bernardino, California to the late Shirley Griffith McNeil Thomas and Archie McNeil. She gained her wings on the afternoon of January 26, 2022 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, NC. Paula was formally educated in the Cumberland County School System, graduating from E.E. Smith High School in 1985. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Social Work from Shaw University and a Master of Science in Human Services and Counseling from Capella University. She served as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor for the Easter Seals- Lillington ACT Team. Paula accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior early in life, and was a faithful servant of Harvest Family Church where she taught Sunday School for almost 20 years. She loved children, and she especially loved teaching children about the Lord. She was a giving, fun-loving woman who loved God and loved helping people. Her beautiful smile, hearty laugh, and big heart would radiate any room she was in. Everyone knew her willingness to help anyone she could in any way she could. She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Griffith McNeil Thomas, her father, Archie McNeil, two special aunts Helen Carter and Doris Simmons, and her best friend, Timothy Pitchford Sr. Paula’s legacy and fond memories will be carried on by her children, her son, Timothy R. Pitchford, Jr. of Sanford, NC and her daughter, Tiara R. Pitchford of Fayetteville, NC; three brothers: David McNeil of Charlotte, NC, Curtis McNeil of Atlanta, GA, and Quincy McNeil of Greensboro, NC; her sister-in-law, Dr. Karmen Cooper of Raleigh, NC; three nieces: Alesha McElvine of Fayetteville, NC, Cimara McNeil of Boca Raton, FL, and Maia McNeil of Raleigh, NC; six nephews: TreVonne Felton of Fayetteville, NC, Austin McNeil, Justin McNeil, and Christian McNeil of Charlotte, NC, Karlos McNeil of Raleigh, NC, and Alem Warner of Atlanta, GA; one aunt, Patsy McKenzie of Brooklyn, NY and one uncle, Carlos Griffith of Colon, Panama; special cousins: Dionne Butler, Helen McNeil, Mitchell McNeil, and Kevin Boyens of Fayetteville, NC, as well as a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, friends, church family, and colleagues.