Our Historical Foundations

A Legacy of Service, Faith, and Family

Serving Families Since 1932

For more than nine decades, W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home, Inc. has remained committed to providing compassionate, professional, and dignified funeral services to families throughout the Charleston community and surrounding areas. Our history is rooted in faith, family, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to service. What began as one man's vision to provide a much-needed service to his community has grown into a multigenerational family legacy that continues today. Our story began in 1932, with the vision and determination of Mr. William Mallory Smith.

The Beginning of a Legacy — 1932

Like many African American men of his generation, Mr. William Mallory Smith understood the importance of creating opportunities, serving his community, and building a strong foundation for his family. With his entrepreneurial spirit, financial resources, creativity, and desire to serve others, he established William Mallory Smith Funeral Home in 1932. His wife, Mrs. Viola Larkin Brown-Smith, stood beside him and assisted with the business in various capacities. Together, they laid the foundation for what would become a lasting institution within the Charleston community. The funeral home originally operated from 2 Radcliffe Street, located in the historic city of Charleston. As the business grew and the need for additional space became apparent, renovations and expansion became necessary. In 1947, the funeral home temporarily relocated to 151 Coming Street while renovations were completed at the Radcliffe Street location.

The Next Generation

From an early age, Mrs. Margaret Smith-Connor, daughter of William Mallory Smith, was inspired by her father's business acumen, determination, and dedication to his community. Watching her father serve families and witnessing firsthand the impact of his work, Margaret developed a desire to follow in his footsteps. She began becoming increasingly involved in the family business, answering telephones, taking messages, and performing clerical duties. Her interest eventually developed into a calling. Determined to expand her knowledge and professional abilities, Mrs. Smith-Connor attended Reonard Training School of Embalmers in New York City, where she completed the required coursework and became a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. Her sisters, Wilhelmina and Juanita, were also inspired by their father's work and eventually joined the family business, making the funeral home truly a family affair. Each sister contributed her own unique gifts and talents: Wilhelmina served as the funeral home's beautician, Juanita served as the recording secretary, and Margaret served as the funeral director and embalmer. Together, the sisters continued the work their father had begun, helping to preserve his vision and strengthen the funeral home's place within the community.

Continuing Their Father's Dream

In February 1960, Mr. William Mallory Smith passed away. His daughters faced the tremendous responsibility of carrying forward the business their father had worked so diligently to establish. Following in their father's footsteps, they continued to work faithfully and tirelessly to keep his dream alive. Their dedication ensured that the Smith family legacy of service would continue for another generation.

A New Chapter — The McNeal Family

In 1993, Mrs. Margaret Smith-Connor and her sister welcomed Mr. Bryan McNeal, Jr. into the organization. At the time, Mr. McNeal was a Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director and served as Vice President of Harleston-Boags Funeral Home, Inc. He initially joined the Smith family business on a part-time basis as Mrs. Smith-Connor was impressed with his embalming skills. What began as an opportunity to help became the beginning of another remarkable chapter in the funeral home's history.

Renovation, Partnership, and a New Name

By May 1996, under the management of Mr. Bryan McNeal, Jr., it became evident that the funeral home was ready for another transformation. Recognizing the importance of providing families with an updated and comfortable facility, plans were made to renovate the historic 2 Radcliffe Street location. On December 29, 1996, Mrs. Margaret Smith-Connor and Mr. Bryan McNeal, Jr. dedicated the newly renovated facility back to God during a special Dedication Service officiated by the late Rev. A.R. Blake of Morris Street Baptist Church. During this period of transition, the community was formally introduced to Mr. McNeal as the funeral home's new manager. Mrs. Delores M. Whaley, formerly of Harleston-Boags Funeral Home and a retired public-school teacher, also joined the organization as Chief Clerk. It was during this pivotal period that the funeral home introduced a motto that would become the guiding principle of its service: "Service with Serenity, Sincerity, and Sensitivity." Those words were more than a motto. They represented a commitment to treat every family with compassion, honesty, dignity, and respect during one of life's most difficult moments. That same commitment continues to guide us today. In 1997, Bryan McNeal, Jr. became a full partner in the firm alongside Mrs. Margaret Smith-Connor. The funeral home was subsequently renamed W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home, Inc., joining the Smith and McNeal families and their legacies of service.

Expansion Into a New Community

In 1999, W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home, Inc. became incorporated, marking another significant milestone in the organization's history.
As the funeral home continued to grow and its service area expanded, the need for additional facilities became apparent. By October 2001, the organization had expanded its operations and purchased a new location. In December 2001, the Awendaw location was formally dedicated, extending the funeral home's services beyond the historic Charleston community and allowing the organization to serve even more families.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

On August 4, 2003, Mrs. Margaret Smith-Connor passed away. Her passing marked the end of an important chapter, but not the end of the legacy she helped build. Just as Margaret and her sisters had done following the passing of their father, Mr. Bryan McNeal, Jr. stepped forward and continued the work. He remained committed to preserving the vision established by William Mallory Smith and carried forward by Margaret Smith-Connor. Through dedication, perseverance, and a deep commitment to families, Mr. McNeal continued to provide the community with the same promise he started: "Service with Serenity, Sincerity, and Sensitivity." Under his leadership, the funeral home continued serving families throughout Charleston, Awendaw, and the surrounding communities.

The Second McNeal Generation

The legacy continued into another generation with Mr. S. Gervais McNeal. Much like Mrs. Margaret Smith-Connor had been inspired by her father, Gervais was inspired by his father from an early age. He witnessed firsthand the difference funeral service could make in the lives of families and saw his father's dedication to the community. By the age of seven, Gervais was spending time at the funeral home whenever he was out of school, particularly during summer vacation. What began as a child spending time with his father gradually developed into a calling of his own. In 2015, Gervais graduated from Gupton-Jones College, his father's alma mater, as the Salutatorian, earning an Associate of Science Degree in Funeral Service. In 2017, he successfully completed his apprenticeship under his father and became a Dual Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.
His father was deeply proud of the dedication and commitment Gervais had demonstrated from childhood into adulthood. In recognition of his hard work and his commitment to continuing the family legacy, Gervais was welcomed into partnership in 2018. Today, S. Gervais McNeal serves as Vice President and Manager of W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home, Inc. In addition to his funeral service credentials, he is also licensed to provide preneed insurance services through Atlantic Coast Life Insurance Company, allowing him to assist families with planning ahead and preparing for the inevitable. His involvement represents the continuation of a multigenerational tradition: learning the importance of service from one generation and carrying that responsibility into the next.

A New Home for a Growing Legacy

For many years, 2 Radcliffe Street served as the heart of W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home. The historic location played an important role in the organization's story and served countless families throughout the Charleston community. However, as the funeral home continued to grow, the facility and available parking were no longer sufficient to accommodate the needs of the families we served. In October 2019, the McNeal family began exploring opportunities to relocate to a larger facility in the North Charleston area. The family entered into a 12-month lease agreement for a vacant facility with the Stuhr family, longtime friends of the McNeal family. Before the completion of that 12-month lease, Mr. Bryan McNeal, Jr. and Mr. S. Gervais McNeal successfully purchased the property, establishing a new permanent home for the funeral business. Today, 2119 Dorchester Road in North Charleston, South Carolina, serves as the home office of W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home, Inc.

A Legacy That Continues

From a vision born in 1932 to a multigenerational family business serving families more than nine decades later, the history of W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home is a story of faith, family, perseverance, service, and community. The legacy began with William Mallory Smith and his desire to provide an essential service to his community. It was strengthened by his wife, Viola Larkin Brown-Smith, carried forward by his daughters Margaret, Wilhelmina, and Juanita, and later expanded through the partnership of the Smith and McNeal families. Today, that legacy continues through Bryan McNeal, Jr. and S. Gervais McNeal, who remain committed to preserving the values upon which the organization was founded. For generations, families have trusted W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home to help them honor their loved ones with dignity and compassion. We recognize that every family we serve becomes a part of our story, just as we become a part of theirs. As we look toward the future, we remain grounded in the principles that have guided us since 1932.

W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home, Inc.
Honoring the past. Serving the present. Building a legacy for the future.

Some of the Original Employees of William Mallory Smith Funeral Home: 1932
Mr. Jessie Capers
Mr. James Dent
Mr. Robert Frasier
Mr. Harold Taylor
Mr. David Sanders
Mr. David Powell


Our Mission:
Here, at W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home, we have a mission... a mission of quality service that is reflected in everything that we do. When families come to us for funeral services, they feel comfortable in expressing their wishes and discussing the options available to them. That's because it's all about family at W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home. We personally make the decisions that affect the standard of service we provide. You can be sure that you will receive the utmost professional care from W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home. Each of our funeral directors are licensed and experienced. We maintain the highest standards with careful attention to every detail. Each and every person on our staff plays an integral part in maintaining our reputation for personal attention and excellent service.