Mr. Willie Naith Veal Jr., age 81 of Branford, Florida was called home on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at Haven Hospice in Lake City, Florida. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Deepstep United Methodist Church Cemetery in Deepstep, GA. A memorial service will be held at 11 am February 4,2023 at the Branford High School Auditorium.

Willie Naith Veal Jr., Veteran, Teacher, and Florida Cattlemen rode out to rest in the shade of a cypress hammock on December 31, 2022.  Mr. Veal was born February 5, 1941, in Sebring, Florida to Willie Naith Veal Sr. and Kathryn M. (Daughtry) Veal.  Mr. Veal lived his early childhood traveling with his parents as his father was a dredge boat operator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When Mr. Veal reached school age, his parents settled in Canal Point, Florida where he spent most of his childhood attending schools in Canal Point and Pahokee. Mr. Veal was a member of the Pahokee FFA chapter and served as state FFA Vice President from 1961 to 1962. Mr. Veal also played football for the Pahokee Blue Devils earning a football scholarship to Furman University. After injuring his knee at Furman, he decided to move back to the Glades to help his father with Veal Cattle Company and attend Palm Beach Community College. It was during the Vietnam draft that Mr. Veal joined the Marines. First serving in the Marine Aviation Cadet Program, then serving in a Marine Expeditionary Force. After his tour in the Marines, Mr. Veal attended the University of Florida joining the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and earning a degree in Agricultural Science in 1966. Mr. Veal returned to South Florida to work in the sugar industry and again help his father with Veal Cattle Company.  In the 1970s, Mr. Veal returned to North Florida, an area he enjoyed while attending the University of Florida. Mr. Veal made Suwannee County his home where he taught Vocational Agricultural and Science for many years at Branford High School.  Mr. Veal enjoyed hunting, fishing, and raising cattle.

Survivors include children William Veal (Karen) of Branford, Caroline Hill (Greg) of Hatch Bend, Richard Hillyard (Tu Uyen) of Jacksonville, and Christy Hillyard (Thistleton) of Jacksonville.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances in the form of contributions may be sent to Branford FFA Alumni at Lafayette State Bank in memory of Mr. Willie Veal.

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