Memorial

Lillian Hallmark Neff passed peacefully in her sleep on October 21st in her 98th year, shortly after celebrating her 97th birthday.

To her many close friends and acquaintances across generations whose lives she touched, she was affectionately known as Miz Lillian or Lily B.  To her five children she was Mom, the best ever.  An able and effective member in many local civic, health, arts and philanthropic organizations, she was often elected eventually to lead them.  Her children, however, were the chief recipients of her attention; she attended every ballet and piano recital, play, concert, football game, swim meet, gymnastic practice, tennis tournament, plus scout, Campfire and Blue Bird meeting. 

Lily B was a surrogate parent, mentor, and friend to many young people, always gracious, kind, considerate, and above all, positive.  Humor kept her young and good company. A constant reader and life-long learner, she respected thoughtful intelligence; visiting authors and speakers were welcome guests in her home.  She also enjoyed bridge, golf, sewing and traveling with her family.

Her faith was at the core of her life. She was the only child of the Rev. John L. and Mae (Millican) Hallmark.  Her father was a Methodist minister and District Superintendent, whose ability to get churches built took her from Tennessee where she was born into Mississippi and across a succession of towns in northern Alabama.  

After graduating from college in Alabama, she went to work for the F.B.I. in Savannah, Georgia. There she met and married Robert W. Neff of Cedar Rapids, a young lawyer and F.B.I Special Agent, and moved to Miami, Florida. Together they followed his postings from Miami, to Charleston, South Carolina to Indianapolis. By way of Indianapolis, with one son, they returned to Cedar Rapids and his law practice. A southern bride who had never spent time north of the Mason-Dixon Line, she made Cedar Rapids her home for the next 70 years.

She was an active participant and served in many organizations during her long life, including: St. Paul's United Methodist Church, United Way (she was the first woman appointed vice-president, budget division), Tanager Place (director emeritus), St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary, P.E.O., Red Cross, Linn Law Wives, Cedar Rapids Marion Arts Council, Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra Association, Cedar Rapids Ladies Literary Club (emeritus) and Cedar Rapids Country Club. 

As an empty nester, for several years, she assisted medical staff and students in reference research as a member of the staff at the Medical Library of St. Luke's Hospital.

She leaves four children: Dr. John Hallmark Neff, Robert W. Neff, Jr. (Ann), Carolyn Neff Lindsay (Dr. James), and M. Gay Neff;  ten grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.  

Her husband of 53 years, Robert, and their son, Stephen H. Neff predeceased her in 1996.

A service of remembrance will be held November 16, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Inurnment will be at St. Paul's United Methodist Church columbarium.  

Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Tanager Place or Meth-Wick Community Foundation.  

The family would like to express their gratitude to the Meth-Wick staff and to St. Luke's Hospice for their loving care.