North Carolina flags to be lowered in honor of ‘A&T Four’ civil rights pioneer Joseph McNeil

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Flags in the state of North Carolina will be lowered to half-staff on Saturday in honor of a civil rights icon who helped to shape history in Greensboro.

Major General Joseph McNeil, a Wilmington native, died at the age of 83, North Carolina A&T State University confirmed to FOX8 on Thursday.

McNeil was one of four Black freshmen from the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina, today known as North Carolina A&T State University, who sat down at the segregated lunch counter at the Woolworth’s in downtown Greensboro and asked to be served on Feb. 1, 1960. When staff refused to serve them, they refused to leave.

“Major General Joseph McNeil, one of the Greensboro Four, shaped civil rights history here in North Carolina and helped spark the movement that changed our country for the better,” said Governor Josh Stein. “May his memory be a blessing.”

Flags will be lowered from sunrise to sunset on Saturday at all state facilities in North Carolina in McNeil’s honor.

McNeil went on to serve in the United States Air Force, serving in Vietnam and eventually earning the rank of major general before retiring. He also worked with the Federal Aviation Administration.

A service for McNeil is being held in New York on Monday. A service will take place at NC A&T on Thursday. Funeral services and interment will be held in Wilmington on Saturday.