December 4, 1939 – April 3, 2026
Avonelle (Cantley) Neff, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many, passed away on April 3, 2026, at the age of 86. Born on December 4, 1939, in Brounland, West Virginia, she carried the spirit of those hills with her throughout a life lived with extraordinary grace.
Avonelle made her home in Maryland, New York, and North Carolina over the years, touching countless lives in each place she called home. Wherever she went, she was known for her gentleness, her kindness, and a quiet tenacity that never left her. She had a smile that welcomed everyone, and the rare gift of making any person — regardless of their station — feel seen and valued. She never hesitated to stand up for those who were overlooked or shunned, and she did so without fear, because her faith made her fearless.
A woman of deep Christian faith, Avonelle lived her belief not in words alone but in the way she treated every soul she encountered — with the grace and compassion her Lord commanded. Those who knew her saw that faith in action every day. Her family takes comfort in knowing that she now rests in the peace she so fully trusted.
Avonelle was a woman of remarkable self-determination. She taught herself shorthand and medical terminology, building a career that culminated in her role as a medical transcriptionist for a well-respected dermatologist at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina — a testament to her intelligence and discipline.
Some of her most treasured hours were spent outdoors alongside her beloved husband, Charles — cutting firewood, planting, walking their property, and traveling to visit family across many states. Those simple, purposeful days together were among her greatest joys. She was also devoted to her Washington District High School reunions, where the bonds of her West Virginia roots were renewed year after year.
In her final years, Avonelle spoke every single day with her double first cousin and dear friend, Christine Debord — a testament to the loyalty and love she gave and inspired in return.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles Neff, and her son, James Neff.
She is survived by her daughters: Teresa Pauley, Susan Simpson, Karen Harris, Tina Cecil, and Mary Stine; 13 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren — a family and a legacy she built with love.
Avonelle Neff did not merely pass through this world. She made it gentler.
Funeral service will be 1:00pm, Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Curry Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.