The Reverend Doctor Samuel Bernard Neely was born the third of 10 children to Mr. Lee Andrew Neely, Sr. and Mrs. Pauline Day Neely of Fountain Inn, South Carolina

He was educated in the public schools of Greenville County. After graduating from Bryson High School in 1967, Dr. Neely began his higher education studies at Friendship Junior College, Rock Hill, SC. Later he transferred to Clafflin College, Orangeburg, SC and was graduated in 1971 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1974-1975, Dr. Neely attended Clemson University where he studied City and Regional Administration.

In 1980 he received a certificate in Christian Training from the American Baptist Theological Seminary Extension Unit, Greenville, SC. He received the Master of Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary in 1989. In 1997 he received the Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL.

Dr. Neely is married to Christine Alford Neely, formerly of Bennetsville, SC. She renders endless labor to the welfare of her family. They have three sons, Samuel Bernard, Jr., Kazon Bernoxeous, Kriston Devorio, and a daughter, Brittany Chrishea.

On October 17, 1976, Dr. Neely delivered his initial sermon at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Fountain In, SC. Four years , October 19, 1980, he was ordained by the Tumbling Shoals Baptist Association of Laurens County.

He has served as associate pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Fountain Inn, SC. In November 1980 - July 1985 he served as pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Laurens, SC. He was installed the 16th pastor of Welfare Baptist Church in Belton, SC on December 15, 1985.

Dr. Neely is very active and concerned in the community's social and religious realm. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc; Member of the Advisory Board of Wachovia Bank. Dr Neely is past Moderator of the Rocky River Baptist Association of Anderson County, and Board Member of Clemson University's School of Nursing and the State Extension Advisory Council, and Senior Solutions of Anderson and Oconee counties. He is past Dean of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. He received a "Community Service Award" from The Geer Family for assisting them in a Bone Marrow Donor Drive for Franklin LaShawn Greer, a leukemia patient. The drive added an additional 60 potential donors to the National Bone Marrow Donor Program Registry of which Mr. Geer will receive 17 possible matches, Dr. Neely is also a member of Anderson Ministerial Organization and past chair of the Upstate UNCF Committee.