Helen Louise Neal

Helen Louise Ethridge Neal, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on November 16, 2024 at the age of 90, confident in her Christian faith and grateful for the love she shared with family and friends.

Helen was born on April 27, 1934, to John and Dixie Ethridge, and grew up off Charlotte Avenue in Nashville with her sister, Frances, and brothers Carl and Kendall. Helen graduated from Cohn High School as Valedictorian and “Most Likely to Succeed” in 1952 and enrolled at the University of Tennessee where she met Tom Neal, a farm boy from Wilson County, Tennessee.

Helen and Tom married in June 1954 and shared 42 years of marriage, building a life together filled with love, mutual support, and dedication to family. They had three sons – Charlie, Jim, and Lynn – and raised them through multiple sports, Scouts, extracurriculars, camps, and church activities. Tom and Helen were active members of Donelson Church of Christ, where Helen taught kindergarten.

Helen returned to college to complete her degree, graduating from Middle Tennessee State University in 1971 with a BS in Education. She joined the Nashville public school system as a kindergarten teacher at Hickman Elementary, continuing in the classroom for twenty years and completing her Masters degree. Her kindness, creativity and patience left a lasting impact on hundreds of children. Helen was always the most technologically savvy in the family (until her grandchildren) and took her interest and skill into her next role with Nashville schools, working out of the central office as a consultant, instructor, and resource for teachers on applying technology in the classroom.

In the mid-1990s, Helen became a fan of country music artist, Wade Hayes. She grew a little frustrated that it was difficult to find Wade’s performance schedule, so she drove to Nashville’s Music Row and knocked on the door of his record company to offer some ideas. That conversation led to Helen starting an email newsletter that grew into a website that helped build a community of fans that was a source of good times, great friends, and chosen family for 30 years.

This community, her church family, and retired educator friends were a great comfort to Helen when Tom died suddenly in 1996. They loved her and she loved them. Helen retired from the school system, volunteered at her church, traveled, played bridge, kept up with the Tennessee Vols and Atlanta Braves, grew deeper in friendships, and loved her family.

Helen is remembered for her warm smile, her gentle voice, and her loving heart. She is survived by her sons Charlie Neal (Linda) of Knoxville, Tennessee, Jim Neal (Michelle) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Lynn Neal (Kristin) of Charlotte, North Carolina; her grandchildren John Neal, Ellen Culpepper, Robert Neal (deceased), Maddy Neal, Shelby Neal, and April Wiseman; her great grandchildren Karen Imamura-Neal, Byrne Culpepper, June Culpepper, Jackson Henson, and Ellis Wiseman; her sister, Frances Sexton; many nieces and nephews; her dear friend and co-conspirator Chellie Edwards; and countless friends.

There will be a Gathering of Family & Friends on Friday, November 22, from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Donelson Church of Christ, 2706 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN. A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 6:00PM with Russ King and Bob Hendren officiating. Interment will be Saturday, November 23, at 11:00 AM at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center in honor of her and Wade Hayes, or a charity of your choice in honor of Helen.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Neal family by selecting "Add a Memory" at the bottom of this page.