Adella Mavis Neal affectionately known as "Mavis", was a pioneer in that she journeyed from Jamaica, to America on her own, to blaze a trail of opportunity for her nine children. "And That She Did"!! She was born on December 19, 1938, in in Cascade District St. Anne, Jamaica to parents, Roberta and Syrumus Sharpe. She received her education through Cascade All Age School.Mom as a young woman, was determined to cross the deep sea of the Atlantic Ocean from Jamaica to find work in the Bahamas, to provide a better life for her children she left in Jamaica. Later, our mom built up this heroic courage, to cross the sea again to make it to the "Promise Land called America". Mom learned to be resilient and a fighter at a young age. She believed in never giving up and fought to the very end in what she believed. She had vision; one that brought her through many of life storms. She was a woman of faith and perseverance. She believed in God and loved to pray boldly as the sun rose clinging on to hope while living within challenging environments. Because of her faith, she was extremely generous. Mom was a diligent woman that believed in providing for family and not just her immediate children, but she had a duty to provide for extended family and those in need. Upon arriving in Miami, she started doing domestic work. One that brought her into the presence of influential people (The Firestones and The Cegas etc.). Over the years she devoted herself to family, her work, and her faith. The Good Shepherd Ministry with former Pastor David Epley was the place for fellowship and spiritual growth. Over the next decade, every Sunday morning, without fail, mom would catch the bus to attend church services. As a woman of faith, she always believed in doing better and becoming more.

Mom furthered her education at D.A. Dorsey Technical School and Ft. Lauderdale College. She later transitioned from domestic work into a career in the medical field as a Certified Nursing Assistant She was also a U.S. Postal Worker during the holiday season.. As a dedicated worker, Mom would catch the bus and get to work far ahead of time. She was very devoted to compassionate care for her patients. She started out doing private duty, then later promoted to working full-time at Doctors Hospital in South Miami. Each day, she caught the bus, train, or we had to drop her off ourselves. Mom would go to work with everything she needed. Even if it meant carrying multiple bags. For the next 15 years or so she never missed work. She then transitioned into working at a rehabilitation facility as a C.N.A. at Unity Health and Rehabilitation Center. Upon leaving Unity Hospital, mom retired as a health care worker.Mom was a great cook and taught us all how to cook, clean, iron, and not to leave dust behind. At times mom was hard on us, a big disciplinarian, and often uncompromising. Because of the many hardships and adversities in her life, she had to be tough. We did not understand it then; But today we can appreciate and understand where it all came from. Anyone who came into our mother's life knew that she was a determined woman. She always showed resilience in every aspect of her life, even until the very end. On August 10, 2024, Adella Mavis Neal departed this life.