Nancy MacNeill
Posted: August 9, 2018
Nancy Jean MacNeill, 68, passed away on August 3, 2018 ,at Anderson Medical Center in Meridian. She was born on December 8, 1949, in Havre de Grace, Maryland, to Barton and Jean (Turner) MacNeill. Nancy was a graduate of Noxubee County High School. She completed an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Mississippi University for Women and received her Ph.D. in chemistry from Mississippi State University. As a career educator, she taught at Maben High School and Wood Junior College before becoming a charter faculty member at Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in 1987 and taught there for 26 years. While at MSMS, she was presented the Presidential Award in Excellence in Science Teaching in 1993. In 2013, she was named the MSMS Teacher of the Year and was also named to the Circle of Excellence in the College of Education at Mississippi State University. She inspired and mentored many students who gave her the name “Dr. Mac”. Most will say that she was the best teacher they ever had. She was an avid reader, enjoyed traveling and many friends and family have been gifted with her meticulously created cross stitch pieces. She was wonderfully gifted singer who performed with choirs and as a solo artist. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and older brother, Allen F. MacNeill. Nancy is survived by her sisters, Cindy (John) Moon of Lafayette, LA, Linda (Chuck) Barrett of Caledonia, MS, Becky (Jim) Takayesu of Santa Barbara, CA and Ellie (Butch) Massey of Meridian, MS; sister-in-law, Shirley MacNeill of Dover, DE; her brothers, John (Amy) MacNeill and Bill (Beth) MacNeill of Sturgis, MS. Ms. MacNeill is also survived by four nephews, nine nieces and one great-niece. A memorial service will begin at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home, 6300 Hwy 39 N., Meridian, MS, at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 11, 2018. A visitation will be held at funeral home from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 10, 2018 and before the service on Saturday morning beginning at 8:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Oddfellows Cemetery in Starkville at 2:30 pm. The family request donations be made to the Diabetes Association or to Mississippi School of Math and Science. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.