Jimmy Neill. Phd

Jimmy D. Neill, PhD, passed from this world on June 1, 2021 after  a  very  long  battle  with  Alzheimers. Born in Merkel, Texas to dry land farmers, he went on to receive a BS from Texas Tech University, a Masters and PhD from the University of Missouri. He served on the faculty of the University of Alabama Birmingham for 25 years as chairman and distinguished professor in the department of Physiology and Biophysics. Married to Joan Byrd Neill for almost 61 years, Jimmy was a devoted husband and father, but his greatest delight and role was that of Grandfather, or "Dada".  He was preceded in death by his parents, T J and Una Muryl Neill, a brother, Joe Neill and a sister, CeVene Neill Slater (Bob).
He is survived by his wife, Joan Byrd Neill; a son, Thomas Garrett Neill (Sharon); a daughter, Phyllis Neill Rush (Pam); grandchildren, Patrick Garrett Neill (fiancee, Daphne Cork) and Emily Portera-Neill (Leanne); a brother, Farris Neill (Freda); a sister, Katy Neill Creigh (Harper); and sister-in-law, Mattie Neill.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 5, 2021 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 am in the funeral home chapel with Pastor J.R. Finney officiating. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Gardens, South.