Beverly Ann Neely

Beverly Ann Hassell was born on October 18, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois to the union of Herbert and Ethel Hassell (nee Williams). The only child from their marriage, Beverly grew up spending summers with her aunt Odell Anderson and her six children who were like siblings. In addition she was raised among her great aunt M.E. Porters three grandchildren. Beverly accepted Christ at an early age at Mt Pleasant A.M.E. Church. In 1966 she graduated from Hyde Park High School. During these years she and several high school friends developed a love for singing music which culminated in Beverly joining and creating various singing groups including The Carnations and The Spices. During her singing career she performed with various future celebrities including Minnie Ripperton and Marshall & The Chi-Lites. Shortly thereafter Beverly met and married Bobby Joe Neely an aspiring young musician. She and Bobby married in 1968 and gave birth to a joyous baby girl named Evette Michelle a year later. Within two years the marriage ended in divorce. With her young daughter in tow Beverly followed her cousin Carole Doss and her family to make a new start in Indianapolis, Indiana. She found employment working for Travelers Insurance Company. In 1977, she left Travelers Insurance and gained employment working as a Radio Traffic Coordinator at WTLC, an urban R&B radio station in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. During this time Beverly met and fell in love with William ‘Sandy’ Grant, also known by the nickname Abu. From their courtship her only son, Langley Mikkel was born in 1980. Soon after both of her parents fell ill and Beverly selflessly gathered her children and moved back home to Chicago, IL to facilitate care for her father Herbert, and later her mother Ethel. Beverly eventually gained employment with the Chicago Public School system as an Administrative Assistant from 1983 until she retired in 2003. While retired she enrolled at Westwood College and received her A.A. in Medical Insurance Billing. In the spring of 2013, Beverly was diagnosed with lung cancer. On January 9, 2014, she succumbed to her illness and departed this world. She was preceded in death by her father Herbert Hassell in 1984, her mother Ethel Hassell in 2008 and her sons father, William ‘Sandy’ (Abu) Grant in 1997. She is survived by her children, Evette and Langley; her granddaughter, Rachel; her son-in-law, Norman; her oldest cousin, Clotera; first cousins that were as close as siblings, Gloria, William, Laster, Carole, Barbara, Leon, Charmaine, Otis and Krystal; a host of beloved cousins, childhood friends, best friends that were as close as family, work mates, and those whose lives may have been touched by Beverly’s grace. During Beverly’s life she wore many hats and took on many roles. She was an avid reader and an eternal student of the world around her. An athlete, reluctant cook, artist, artisan, second mother, Boy Scout & Girl Scout Den Mother, fiercely loyal friend and beloved confidante, Beverly was a fierce defender of what was right and fair in the world. She will be sorely missed in all our hearts.

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Beverly Ann Neely

October 18, 1947 - January 9, 2014