“A True American Hero”: Wilmington pays tribute to Major General Joseph McNeil

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Family, friends, and community leaders gathered in Wilmington Saturday to honor Major General Joseph A. McNeil, a civil rights pioneer and decorated military leader.

McNeil, a Wilmington native, was one of the Greensboro Four whose 1960 sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter helped ignite a nationwide push for racial equality. He later served more than 30 years in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve, retiring with the rank of major general.

The funeral service was held at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and included tributes from local officials, classmates, and family members.

“General McNeil’s legacy does not end when we put him to rest,” New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple said during the service. “We have an obligation to keep that work going, to make sure his efforts live on.”

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo remembered McNeil as “a true American hero,” saying the city will always honor his name with pride.

Dr. Herbert Harris, a classmate from Williston High School, described McNeil as a “warrior” whose actions at such a young age continue to inspire.

McNeil’s son, Joseph Jr., said his father wanted others to focus on service, whether in families, neighborhoods, or communities. “Whatever you can do, do,” he said. “No matter how big or how small.”

Community leaders, including Rhonda Bellamy of the Arts Council of Wilmington, emphasized McNeil’s historic role. “By sitting down, he took a stand for civil rights in this country,” she said.

McNeil graduated from Williston Senior High School before attending North Carolina A&T State University, where he and three classmates launched the sit-in movement on February 1, 1960. Their refusal to leave a whites-only lunch counter sparked sit-ins, protests, and boycotts across the South.

He went on to a decorated military career and received multiple honors, including honorary degrees and a city street dedicated to his name. On the campus of NC A&T, a statue and buildings stand in recognition of the Greensboro Four.

McNeil is remembered as a man of conviction, humor, and respect, whose influence spanned from Wilmington to the nation.