Judge Philip Halbert “Hal” Neilson

Judge Philip Halbert “Hal” Neilson, 63, died Sunday, January 7, 2024, in Alligator, MS, at his hunting camp. Hal was born on December 27, 1960, in Lexington, MS, to the late Rosemary Icke and Edwin Tye Neilson, Jr. Hal was an avid athlete who played numerous sports at Central Homes Academy and later played football at Delta State. He continued his education at the University of Mississippi where he was President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi Law School.

Hal then moved to Washington, D.C. where he launched his career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He represented the FBI for 20+ years as a legal advisor and civil litigation attorney. He proudly started the Violent Crimes Task Force. He later moved to Jackson, MS then Oxford, MS where he served as the Special Agent In Charge for North Mississippi. He retired from the FBI in 2012.

Hal went on to start his own law practice, Neilson Law Office. He covered criminal defense, insurance fraud, civil rights violations, and torts in Federal, State, and Local Courts. He also served as prosecutor for the City of Coffeeville, MS. He thoroughly enjoyed helping others.

On March 29, 2018, Hal was sworn in as the Municipal Judge for the City of Oxford. In June 2023, he was elected by his peers as President of the Mississippi Municipal Judges Association. He loved being the Judge. He loved the people he worked with and the community he served.

He was an avid outdoorsman and thoroughly enjoyed deer hunting with his son and son-in-law. Hal loved cheering on the Ole Miss Rebels in both football and baseball. He also enjoyed spending time with his family at Rosemary Beach. He was so looking forward to the annual family beach trip that he takes each year on July 4th.

Hal was an exceptional Husband, Father, and Grandfather. He loved his family with every ounce of his being.

Hal is survived by his wife, Michelle Gebhart Neilson of Oxford, MS; daughters, Heather Neilson Nutt and her husband, Grady, of Louisville, KY, Rosemary Elizabeth Neilson of Charleston, SC, and Marjorie Ann Neilson of Nashville, TN; son, Philip Halbert Neilson, Jr. of Oxford, MS; grandson, Grady Lee Nutt, III; his brothers, Tye Neilson (Kimberly) of Houston, TX and Rob Neilson (Rhonda) of Houston, TX; his sisters, Melany Neilson (Fred Slabach) of Oxford, MS and Mary Beth Ahern (Tom) of Seattle, WA; and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dean and Margie Gebhart of Jackson, MS.

The funeral will be Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 3:00 P.M. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Jody Schmelzer officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 12:30 P.M. in West Hall of Waller Funeral Home. A private graveside service will be held at Oxford Memorial Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Hal’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105 or online at https://www.stjude.org/ or to Pine Lake Church of Oxford, 5202 George G Patterson Parkway, Oxford, Mississippi 38655 or online at https://pinelake.org/next-steps/give/.