NC A&T Honors Civil Rights Icon Maj. Gen. Joseph McNeil

Major General Joseph Alfred McNeil, a pioneering civil rights icon and one of the Greensboro Four, passed away at age 83 in early September 2025. McNeil and three other Black freshmen from North Carolina A&T State University courageously staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro on February 1, 1960, an act that sparked the civil rights movement across the United States. A memorial service was held on September 11, 2025, at North Carolina A&T's Harrison Auditorium, featuring a eulogy by Bishop William J. Barber II and tributes from the families of the other Greensboro Four members. The service included readings from prominent local pastors, musical performances by the university gospel choir, and presentations by ROTC units, with a video tribute and public participation encouraged through donations to civil rights organizations. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein ordered flags lowered in McNeil's honor, recognizing his lasting impact on civil rights and his decorated military service. The legacy of McNeil is remembered as a testament to courage, conviction, and dedication to justice and service to the nation.