Remembering George McNeal
George McNeal was one of my very first best friends in the Laurel, MD neighborhood where we spent our childhood in the early 1980s. He and his older brother, Mike, were always there for me and all of our friends—ready to play basketball, football, or just to talk on the phone for hours in those carefree days. Mike is about a year older than me, and George is about a year younger, which made for a pretty perfect friendship in elementary school; and one that I always knew would stand the test of time.
Originally from Georgia, the boys and their mom moved back down south in 1985, leaving an irreplaceable void in our little closely-knit group of friends. But they managed to stay in touch with us through the decades—long before social media made it so much easier to do.
George was often bullied when we were little, but he never backed down. He and Mike had a tough childhood, starting with the death of their father, who'd been killed on the job in an electrical accident when the boys were very small. Even as a child, I remember being impressed with how their mom managed to take care of them—and vice versa.
George's life was never easy, through no fault of his own. Ironically, despite a lifetime of clean living and regular exercise, he developed diabetes. And it took a devastating toll.
On June 25th, George was found unconscious in his apartment after neighbors hadn't seen him for two days. He was rushed to Memorial Hospital in Savannah, where he lingered in a coma until being transferred to hospice care on July 9th. On the morning of July 13th, my friend George passed away.
Mike (currently working in Little Rock, AR) now has the herculean task of flying back to Georgia to make final arrangements for his little brother, and to clean out his apartment. This would be a tough situation for anyone under any circumstances, but the pandemic has made it even more so. Despite being the only member of George's immediate family, Mike wasn't even allowed to see him in the hospital. Now, he's the one who has to pick up the pieces.
This is where WE can help make sure he's not alone.
I know this is a very difficult time for everyone, but I'm humbly asking folks—especially those who knew and loved George—to consider donating whatever they can to help support Mike during this time—whether it's $5 or $5,000. Anything will help.
I will ensure that all funds raised will go directly to Mike McNeal to help with expenses that no one should have to bear alone. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. 
