Ms. Bertha Louise McNeal

****A CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICES FOR MS. BERTHA LOUISE MCNEAL WILL BE HELD THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022 AT STONES CHURCH IN KALAMAZOO (DOORS OF THE CHURCH WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT 10:30 A.M.) ***ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO VIEW SERVICES ONLINE YOU HAVE (3) OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM: 1. Go to Stone Church's website at: stoneschurch.com -Or 2. Go to YouTube -Or 3. Go to Facebook, if you have a facebook account. after logging in, type in Stones Church -Or- 4. Go To Stones Church Livestream ***PLEASE SEE WALK THROUGH VISITATION INFORMATION FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2022 LISTED BELOW**** ****MASKS & SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN ENTERING THE CHURCH---HAND SANITIZER WILL BE PROVIDED**** _________________________________________ The Obituary Bertha (Barbee) McNeal was born in Shannon, Mississippi to Rome and Emergine (Harris) Barbee, the oldest of three children. The family moved to Flint when Bertha was a toddler. She confessed Christ at an early age and attended St. James C.M.E. church with her family. At the age of nine, Bertha began taking piano lessons and performed in many recitals. She began cultivating her passion for music and later graduated from Flint Central High School where she was a member of the girls’glee club. Bertha initially wanted to become a nurse, but quickly changed her mind after one day of a hospital internship. Bertha along with her cousins Norma and Joyce joined their uncle Simon Barbee in forming the group “The Barbee’s” They performed throughout the State of Michigan and recorded two songs “The Wind” and “Que Pasa.” She naturally gravitated towards community, she was a member of The Flint Urban League and was a leader with Flint Mott Foundation. After spending two years at Flint Junior College (now Mott Community College), Bertha attended Western Michigan University. Bertha had originally aspired to be a composer and majored in music with an emphasis on piano. She would often hang out in the student union and play the grand piano while others enjoyed. She and friend Mildred (Gill) Arbor formed a singing group. They recruited Mildred’s sister Caldin (Gill) Street, Bertha’s cousin Norma (Barbee) Fairhurst and friend Betty Kelley. They performed at various soc hops including winning a talent contest on campus that caught the ear of Berry Gordy’s nephew Robert Bullock who encouraged them to audition for Motown. After a snowy ride to Hitsville USA and being in the right place at the right time, the rest is history. The Velvelettes became a part of Motown and recorded several songs including “There He Goes”, “Needle In A Haystack”, and “He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin.” She toured with famed legends such as Dick Clark, Gladys Knight and The Pips and The Supremes to name a few. After a taste of fame, Bertha graduated with a bachelor’s in music education. Bertha returned to Flint to teach while newly engaged. She and former spouse Earl McNeal settled in Kalamazoo for work and raising a family. She became mother of twins, Martin (Marty) and Melva. Bertha’s love of music led her to cultivate her passion for mentoring and teaching. She worked at Para-School Learning Center and would eventually obtain her master’s degree in music education. She was the “Music Lady” on WKZO-TV Channel 3 Clubhouse for many years. She continued accompanying various singers on piano for events and was an active member of the Afro-American Community Chorale. In 1976 she joined forces with Edison Elementary as music teacher and choir director of 80 students. She then moved to Milwood Middle School in the early eighties as music educator and choir director to 130 students. She retired from Milwood in 2002. She was known for her upbeat contemporary choir performances that challenged the status quo. She was a trailblazer in her own right. While teaching, Bertha continued to engage in the community and collaborated with like-minded friends and co-founded the Black Arts Festivals and Youth Festivals at Bronson Park. During her summers Bertha took classes towards her doctorate degree at Michigan State University. She became an active member of First United Baptist Church. She reunited with the Velvelettes in 1984 and performed at various events that included repeated performances in London. She performed with the Kalamazoo Gospel Chorus accompanied by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and worked on several committees along with serving as board member to many. Bertha did not “retire” from her purpose when she retired from Kalamazoo Public Schools in 2002. She devoted more time with her growing family that included her grandchildren Cydni and Spencer to whom she was affectionately known as “Bamma.” Bertha kept the momentum and joined the NAACP-ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) Committee as co-chair where she worked diligently recruiting, coaching, and motivating students to promote their creative talent in local and national competitions. She continued to perform with the Velvelettes with her most recent performance in July of this year for the Juneteenth celebration. She also began teaching private music lessons. She helped with summer music programs and vacation bible studies with Allen Chapel AME Church. Dedicated to her passion of community and teaching Bertha took on the position of artistic director and music instructor with the Helen L Fox Gospel Music Center where she inspired many lives especially that of young people. She actively fostered, mentored, and instructed children on several musical instruments and directed recitals. The pandemic did not stop her, she began instructing virtual Zoom teaching sessions with the students. Bertha was known for giving heartfelt and thoughtful gifts. She was admired and adored by many. She aimed to please and empower others. She did not stray away from the mainstream. She was a social magnet and icon and was gentle but persistent when it came to her passions for music and teaching. She was a pillar of the community and thoroughly enjoyed life. In her spare time, she enjoyed attending social events including plays, concerts and the like. She relaxed by watching home shopping networks, reading cookbooks and magazines, browsing the internet and ordering from catalogs. She received countless awards and recognitions ranging from Golden Apple Award presented by WMU Alumni, Who’s Who Among American Women, Who’s Who Among American Teachers, recognized as one of the 100 Outstanding African American Men and Women in Kalamazoo and most recently received The Community Arts Award. Bertha leaves to cherish her memory: daughter, Melva Payton, son, Martin McNeal, grandchildren Cydni and Spencer Payton, Aunt Amilee Troutman, nieces Malita, Kim, Kia, nephews Michael, Ovell Jr, Nya, Osai and Chike. She also leaves a host of cousins, family, and friends. Bertha was preceded in death by her father Rome Barbee, mother Emergine (Harris) Barbee, brother Ovell Barbee, sister Melva Todd, brother-in-law James Todd, nephew Alan Hardwick Jr., son-in-law Darris Payton and cherished uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.

Ms. Bertha Louise McNeal

June 12, 1940 - December 15, 2022