Rock Hill School was started by Green B. Neal. Early members of my family lived in obedience

to the message in Luke

12:48, "For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." Emancipation ended slavery, and freedmen and women understood what freedom required of them: "must do" and "reach back."

Such as it was, children of these former slaves obtained some education. They studied earnestly and acquired as much schooling as possible. Then, they devoted their lives to helping others.

Ephraim's sons, Jesse (b. 1870) and Weston (b. 1871), gave back to the community, and Green B. (b. 1874) obeyed the call to help others. He provided education opportunities for his children, Gene, Wilhelmina, Joseph, and Ralph and fostered learning and financial conscientiousness for others.

Cousin Joe Neal remembers that in the 1800's his grandfather, Green B., started a school at Rock Hill AME church. The school board initially denied funds saying there weren't enough children in that Bluff Road neighborhood. He drove a wagon around the community recruiting and transporting scores of children to school, proving the board wrong. Rev. Green B. Neal also founded the Tribes of Judah, Inc., which provided burial insurance policies.

The Rev. Dr. J.P. Neal Sr. is an alumnus of Morris College and a member of the Board of Trustees. The next generation understood their obliga- tions, too. Obtaining a formal education was a privilege, and James P. Neal Sr. recognized this would require much. It must have been an indescribable feeling to stand on the grounds of Morris College as an alumnus and a board member while remembering he earned his tuition by feeding the hogs on the school's farm and repairing the roofs of the school's buildings.

Rev. Dr. James P. Neal Sr. worked laboriously to earn tuition. He later worked tirelessly raising funds for Morris College. Uncle J.P. paid his dues. So did his brother, Rev. Dr. Westbury Neal, whose name is inscribed on the Fine Arts Center building and who is Morris College Board Chairman Emeritus. It is hard to believe that Ephraim Neal's fodder barn on the creek served as their first school.

We can trace our family back to Jim and Tina DeVeaux who were taken from Africa (c. 1800), so my age group counts ourselves as the fifth generation. Acquiring an education was an unwritten must for us. We were reminded to never forget from whence we came, to accomplish much, and to always reach back to help others. Perhaps this is best reflected in generation five's professions.

Rev. Dr. Westbury Neal's (1908- 2003) daughter, Rochelle Thomas, could have comfortably remained retired but she returned to the classroom and serves at the church with a missionary spirit.

Russell Boyd (b. 1948), Rosa Neal Boyd's (1923- 1964) son (Ephraim's great- grandson), grew up in Hopkins but now lives in another city. After progressive managerial work promotions, he is nearing retirement. Yet Russell travels great distances to serve on a board to rehabilitate juvenile offenders. He also serves on the Morris College board.

Family dinners with Rev. Dr. Blakely Scott III (b. 1948) are always interrupted by phone calls from one of over 6,000 members from his two churches. He never seems to grimace. Blakely always takes the calls or visits hospitalized members. His nature keeps him humble even when presented the Order of the Palmetto by South Carolina's governor and when he was inducted into the Housing Authority's Wall of Fame on the prerequisite of having once lived in Allen- Benedict public housing.

Reverend Green B. Neal (b. 1874) also passed on a legacy of service to his great- grandchildren. Clear examples are the public service of SC State Representative Joseph Neal (b. 1950), Dr. G.B. Neal (b. 1947) who tirelessly provides medical care, and Dr. Sarah Prioleau Montgomery.

The brothers, Rev. J.P. Neal Jr. and Rev. Dr. Aiken Neal, don't appear to know how to limit themselves. They pastor churches, teach school, serve on advisory boards, and are involved in a multitude of altruistic projects.

Ephraim's son, Weston P. Neal (b. 1871) , taught in rural Weston. It is safe to surmise that he would be proud of his grandson, John Furgess, who retired as a postmaster and now substitute teaches; his great- grandson, Dr. Nelson Thompson, innovative chemistry professor at Spelman College; and great- great granddaughter, Columbia City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine.

The family's sixth generation is well on their success- filled way. It is hoped they remember their "charge to keep." As they soar, may they never forget Jim and Tina DeVeaux who came from Africa (c. 1800), Ephraim (b. 1844) who carved his way in a new freedom, and that creek of memories which runs along family land in Hopkins.