Elizabeth “Lisa” Clark Neely, 60, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away on August 19, 2026.
Lisa was born in Charlotte at Presbyterian Hospital, the daughter of Julian “Jerry” Jerome Clark Jr. and Elizabeth “Woody” Bradford Clark. She grew up on Cloverfield Road in Charlotte, graduated from Davidson College in 1988, and earned a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the Medical College of Virginia in 1996.
Lisa began her career at North Carolina National Bank, but quickly did something considerably more characteristic: she traveled the world for two years. Graduate school and a career in healthcare consulting followed. She eventually returned to Bank of America, where she taught financial literacy. Throughout those chapters ran some of the same threads: curiosity, learning, adventure, and love for others.
A timeline of schools and jobs only begins to tell Lisa’s story. The center of her life was the family she built with her husband, Doug, and their children, Sarah, Connor, and Elizabeth “Biz,” her extended family, and a large group of friends.
The Lisa We Knew
Lisa possessed the kind of enthusiasm that could turn someone else’s spontaneous idea into a family adventure. When Sarah once called her mother with the impulsive idea of getting a dog, Lisa did not respond with a list of reasons why it might be impractical. Her answer was immediate: “Do it. We will figure it out.”
That instinct to say yes, embrace the moment, and figure out the details afterward was ingrained in Lisa.
It also helps explain why she saw so much of the world. On one adventure in Australia with her brother Andy, the money began to run short. Lisa’s solution was to sell dried flowers door to door to finance the next leg of the journey, while Andy set off to try to sell their car. For Lisa, travel was not simply about reaching a destination. There was adventure to be found in figuring out how to keep going.
What Mattered to Lisa
Some of her favorite places were close to home and part of the rhythm of everyday life: the Bridge Center, the Booty Loop, and Lake Norman, especially the causeway where the lake stretched out on both sides and the sunset seemed to take over the horizon. Litchfield Beach became part of the geography of family life. Other beloved places reflected the traveler in her: the peaks of Nepal; far-flung corners of Southeast Asia; the blue waters of Lake Bled in Slovenia; Paris and the south of France, and the botanical gardens in Richmond.
But the places themselves were only part of it. What mattered were the people with whom Lisa experienced them. Travel, dancing, family gatherings, friendships, and spontaneous adventures were all ways of doing something Lisa seemed to understand instinctively: being present for the lives of the people she loved.
Her devotion to her family often showed itself not in grand gestures, but in countless small acts of attention. She noticed things. She remembered things. And she was ready to help solve whatever problem came next.
Family
Lisa was preceded in death by her father, Julian Jerome “Jerry” Clark Jr.
She is survived by her husband, Douglas Neely; their children, Sarah (Timmy), Connor, and Elizabeth “Biz,”; her mother, Elizabeth “Woody” Bradford Clark; her sister, Mary Attaway (Joe); her brother, Andy Clark (Lauri); many beloved nieces and nephews; and Uncle Billy and Vero.
Reflection
The world was something Lisa wanted to experience fully: to travel through, to dance through, to share with friends, and above all to experience with her family. For those fortunate enough to have shared some part of that journey with her, there are stories that will be told for many years to come.
And whenever the opportunity presents itself to take the trip, get the dog, help a friend, or simply dance, Lisa left some pretty good advice:
“Do it. We will figure it out.”
Service
A memorial service in celebration of Lisa’s life and resurrection will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church, 200 W. Trade St., Charlotte, NC. Visitation with family and friends will be after the service in the Wood Fellowship Hall adjacent to the sanctuary. The service will be live-streamed and can be watched at the following link: https://firstpres-charlotte.org/watch/
Memorial contributions may be made to the Local Outreach Fund at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte.