[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF THE LATE BISHOP WILLIE B. McNEIL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of a very special man of God 
who has recently left us, Bishop Willie B. McNeil.
  After a rich and full life serving his community, his church, and his 
God, Bishop Willie B. McNeil passed away on December 11, 2001. He was 
born September 10, 1919, the second of nine children to the late John 
and Mary McNeil in Pritchard, Alabama. He completed his early education 
at the St. James Catholic School. His formal education came from the 
``Knee College'', where he graduated from ``the old man to the new 
man''. In 1944, he met and began a courtship with Dora James. On 
February 18, 1945 they were married and had seven children.
  Bishop McNeil was saved and received the gift of the Holy Ghost at 
the Old Holiness Church in Pritchard, Alabama. He later moved to New 
york and God found favor with him and called him to the ministry of the 
Apostolic Faith. He became Assistant Pastor of the Old Truth Church of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, in Brooklyn, NY, where the late Elder D. Freeman 
was Pastor.
  In 1963, Bishop McNeil established his own church, The House of the 
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith. He later changed 
the name of that church to Holy Cross Remnant Church of Jesus of the 
Apostolic Faith.
  For 54 years, Bishop W.B. McNeil has been and continues to be a 
source of wisdom and inspiration. Through his teaching and preaching 
about God, Bishop McNeil inspired Pastor Clarence Keaton, who loved him 
like a father; the Bishop became the grandfather of the True Worship 
Church Worldwide Ministries.
  Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Mother Dora McNeil, 
and his seven children, Catherine McNeil, Frances McNeil, Willie 
McNeil, Jr., Anthony McNeil, Michael McNeil, Crystal McNeil, Stephen 
McNeil and his spiritual son, Rev. Dr. Clarence Keaton. Preceding him 
in death were two brothers, the late Rufus McNeil, the late Melvin 
McNeil, and two sisters, the late Mable Peterson and the late Catherine 
Richardson. He is also mourned by one of his brothers, John McNeil, and 
two sisters, Dorothy Pease and Mattie Reed as well as a host of 
grandchildren, nieces, nephews and his church family, and all the 
members of the Holy Cross Remnant Church of Jesus of the Apostolic 
Faith.
  The late Bishop McNeil is one of the greatest servants that God has 
placed on this earth and will truly be missed. As such his family is 
more than worthy of receiving this recognition today and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in honoring the life of this truly remarkable man 
of God.

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