Neal Alexander Holland Sr., 94, died April 1st in his home. The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 2 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Shelton Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at Central Park Baptist Church on Monday April 3rd at 1:00 p.m. Neal was born in Lawrence County on September 24, 1911 to Thomas Irvin Holland Sr. and Della Gillespie Holland. Neal purchased his first small dump truck with two hundred dollars borrowed from his father and began his business. He would enter military service in February of 1942 as a member of the 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion with the 45th Division. He went on to see combat in Northern Africa and Southern Europe, participating in the invasions of Sicily, Salerno, Casino, and Rome. In 1943 Neal married Catherine Blaxton. The couple was married for 36 years and had three children. Catherine died from cancer in 1979.

After returning from the war, Neal resumed his business venture. His best friend, Felton Woodard, and he began the foundation of Holland and Woodard Company, Inc. Their small trucking business grew into a diversified general contracting company engaged in sand, stone, trucking and site preparation work and employed hundreds in the area over the last sixty one years. Neal played a part in laying the foundation of much of the city of Decatur as well as Morgan County and the State of Alabama.

Neal was an active member of the Decatur community. He was a member of Central Park Baptist Church for 56 years, a member of the Rising Sun Lodge #29 where he received his Fifty-Year Apron, Cahaba Temple, and Decatur Shrine Club. In 1986, he married Emma Hamby Jackson and the two have lived happily ever since. Neal was able to spend his last day on this earth just as he had so many others; he spent time at work and spent time with his family. He is survived by his wife Emma, children; Neal Holland Jr., Helen Sanderson and Joan Wynn, nine grandchildren and 1 great grandchild