Valanne Neel

Valanne Neel, 57, passed away Friday Jan. 3, 2014, at Archbold Memorial Hospital. Graveside services will be held at Laurel Hill Cemetery on Kentucky Street at 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014. She was born Feb. 13, 1956, to parents Janet and Howell Neel. She attended Thomasville High School, the Thomas-Grady ARC Training Center in Thomasville and Green Oaks Training Center in Moultrie. In her youth, Valanne loved going to the coast where she would walk for hours on the beach picking up shells and other treasures. She learned the names of many of those treasures from her beloved grandmother, Nellie Neel. Valanne was a special-needs person who was special to everyone who knew her. Survivors include her sister and brother-in-law, Martitia and Doug Beach; her aunt and uncle, Julie and Leon Neel; her special first cousins, Julie Neel Horne, Susan Neel Campbell; Julie Heggie Poehlman; her very special friend, Frank Burgess; her house director and roommates at the Tallokas Group Home, Delores “Bitty” Dotson, Pam and Linda; many cousins; and all her friends at Glenn-Mor. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Thomas-Grady ARC at P.O. Box 994, Thomasville, Ga. 31799, Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society, 180 Big Star Drive, Thomasville, Ga. 31757, or Hands and Hearts for Horses, P.O. Box 1095, Thomasville, Ga. 31799. Visitors may sign the online guestbook at www.allenfh.com . — Allen & Allen Funeral Home