Claudia Neelly

Surrounded by her family, Claudia Perry Neelly, 79, quietly passed away on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at Generations Senior Living. She was born at her family home in Grenada, MS, on October 5, 1943, to her parents Dit and Tucker Johnson. She graduated from John Rundle High School in Grenada where she was a member of the Sub-Deb Cotillion and was Grenada’s Miss Hospitality. She attended Mississippi State College for Women and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from The University of Mississippi. While at Ole Miss, she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. She married the love of her life, Ed Neelly, III, on July 12, 1963, at First Baptist Church of Grenada, and they honeymooned in the Smokey Mountains.
Claudia was an active member of the Tupelo Garden Club, Tupelo’s Jr. Auxiliary, and First Presbyterian Church. She was an avid Ole Miss fan, and she and her husband held season tickets to all Rebel football and basketball games. She was passionate about anything Ole Miss and donned her Ole Miss attire for every ballgame. A lover of the outdoors, she enjoyed all water activities, gardening, traveling, spending time with her dogs, and relaxing at their cabin at Pickwick with Tom and Judy Billups and their sons. Claudia’s personality was big and bold, and she was one to enjoy a good party. A natural born hostess, she was most comfortable entertaining her numerous friends and family with a keen eye for detail that went along with the event but cooking for her husband and three children was her favorite labor of love. The “belle of the ball” and always “dressed to the nines”, Claudia was fun-loving and accompanied her husband on many banking trips and social engagements during her tenure as the former First Lady of the city of Tupelo. She had a zeal for shopping and loved to find a bargain whether at T.J. Maxx or an estate sale. She and will be dearly missed by all.
She is survived by one son, Ed Neelly, IV, wife Leigh Carol, of Tupelo, one daughter, Perry Erickson, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents, one brother, Tucker “Bubba” Johnson, her son, Tucker Neelly, and her husband.
Claudia’s family would like to extend a special thank you for the love given to her at Generations Senior Living and Enhabit Home Health & Hospice.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, at First Presbyterian Church in Tupelo. There will be no formal visitation prior to the service. The Rev. Dr. Taylor Todd will officiate. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Tupelo and Generations Senior Living at 1090 County Road 811, Salitillo, MS, 38866.