Shirley Neese, Founder
Shirley Neese is a lifelong resident of the Shoals and is the area’s #1 real estate agent in sales volume, with over 1200 properties closed and more than $272 million in transactions over her 40-year career.
She received her real estate license in 1978 and became a broker in 1980. In 1984, she established Neese Real Estate. Integrity, community and market knowledge, savvy marketing, effective negotiation, and a strong network are hallmarks of her work.
Shirley believes putting her clients first is the key to providing top-tier service. She’s known for her empathic and responsive communication, accessibility, and willingness to go above and beyond for each client. Her client-centric approach keeps continual professional development top-of-mind, and she’s always ready to dive into the latest tech and trends.
Shirley’s awards and accolades include Shoals Citizen of the Year, the State Educational Award, Muscle Shoals Area Board Past President (Local Association of Realtors), the Women’s Council of Realtors Woman of the Year award, and many more. Shirley and Neese Real Estate are current or past members of multiple professional associations, as well as supporters of a number of local charitable and community-building organizations. (See the full list here.)
Jimmy Neese, President
Jimmy Neese is passionate about breathing new life into downtown Florence. He works with individuals and companies across a wide range of properties; in addition to residential transactions, he is also Neese Real Estate’s main point of contact for commercial properties. Jimmy also brings our clients over two decades of guidance and expertise in renovating historical properties.
Jimmy has restored a number of historically significant anchor buildings that have contributed to stabilizing downtown Florence, including the Neese Real Estate office and the historic Rogers building. He has spearheaded the redevelopment and restoration of over 200,000 square feet of mixed-use properties in the historic downtown area, as well as properties outside the Shoals in metro areas like Birmingham and Nashville.
Jimmy has been featured in local and national publications and has received a number of awards for his community involvement, including Shoals Citizen of the Year. He has also been involved in state and local boards over the past 15 years, including the Alabama State Preservation Board, Alabama Historical Commission, and National Park Service.
Currently, Jimmy is working on a gateway project into downtown Florence as part of his commitment to maintaining redevelopment efforts in the historic district. (Learn more about Neese Real Estate’s Commercial projects here.)
Jimmy’s goal is to build on the tradition of excellence to clients, the community, and the real estate profession which has elevated Neese Real Estate, Inc., to its position as a leader in the Shoals real estate marketplace.
Randall Matthews
Randall Matthews has worked in every aspect of the real estate industry since 2008, representing sellers, buyers, investors, and banks in residential, land, and commercial markets. He’s passionate about putting his clients’ best interests first, and he strives to execute every transaction from a place of integrity, hard work, creative service, and family values.
Randall is a Multi-Million Dollar Producer with expertise in skilled negotiations, property analysis and market trends, and a specialty in residential, lakefront homes and land. A native of the Shoals, Randall is a graduate of Coffee High School and Catawba College, and he is an active member of the Rotary Club of Florence.
Preston Wilson
Preston Wilson is a lifelong resident of the Shoals. Before becoming a licensed REALTOR in 2016, he spent 19 years as a licensed insurance agent. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and youth sports. Preston lives with his wife, Julie (a 4th-grade teacher at Forest Hills Elementary in Florence), and has two adult children, Sara, 24, and Sam, 20.
Camby Smith
Jason and Camby Smith are newly licensed REALTORS, but they’re industry veterans; they own Camson Builders and have worked in home construction for nearly a decade. Not only do they buy and sell real estate; they design and build the homes they sell, and hold an Alabama Contractors License. They have deep knowledge of nearly every aspect of a home, from its creation and design to marketability and potential. As a team, Jason and Camby offer a unique advantage and depth of knowledge to the buyers and sellers who work with them, including home building and remodeling.
The Smiths are lifelong residents of the Shoals; Camby is a Sheffield High School graduate, and Jason graduated from Brooks High School. They live in Killen with their four children.
Diane Coward, Office Manager
Since 2011, Diane Coward has served our incredible clients and REALTORS as Neese Real Estate’s Office Manager. She retired from the Ford Motor Company’s Nashville Glass Plant in 1995 after 32 years in Account/Analysis. Diane has been a resident of the Shoals since 2006.
Neese Real Estate, Inc. and Shirley G. Neese are active or past members of the following organizations:
- Local, State and National Associations of Realtors
- Muscle Shoals Area Board Past President
- Realtor of the Year Award
- State Regional Board of Directors
- State Professional Standards Committee
- State Education Award
- Realtors Honor Class
- Lifetime Member – Million Dollar Club
- Professional Designations: GRI (Graduate of Realtors Institute), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist), and completed all 5 courses for CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Management) designation
- Local, State and National Homebuilders Associations, Former Associates Council Chairperson
- Shoals Area Chamber of Commerce – 1992 Chairman of the Board and 1st Lady Officer, Roundtable Committee Chairperson – Vice President of Tourism, Small Business Personal Services Award
- Employees Relocation Council, Member
- Northwest-Shoals Community College – Foundation Board of Directors Member 1984-2000; Sponsored by Senator Bobby Denton; Past President.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport – Board of Directors
- Riverhill School – Board of Directors
- UNA Alumni Association – Lifetime Member
- UNA Sportsman Club – Member
- United Way of the Shoals – Past Red Feather Member
- Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of the Shoals – Founding Member
- Hi Neighbors Club
- Boy Scouts of America – Patron
- Leukemia Society – Celebrity Waitress and Celebrity Golfer
- America Heart Association Shoals Area – Past President; Jail Bail Participant
- Muscle Shoals District Service League Fundraising Support
- Benefit Ball of the Shoals – Corporate Sponsor
- Hope Haven School – Corporate Sponsor
- Contributions to local schools, including Adopted Brandon School 1990-1996
- NCAA Division II Championship Game – Committee Member and past Ambassador to North Dakota State University
- Rotary Club, Sheffield – Member
- BPW (Business and Professional Women) “Woman of Achievement” Award
- Women’s Council of Realtors, “Woman of The Year” Award
- Past appointment to the Zoning Board of the City of Florence
- Alabama Realtor Political Action Committee, Lifetime Member and recipient of the (first) Golden “R” Award
- Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments – VIP Conference Sponsor
- Alabama Music Hall of Fame – Corporate Board of Trustees Ritz and Zodiac Theaters, Patron
- Handy Festival Corporate Sponsor for many years; 2002 Ms. Grand Marshal “Shoo Be Doo”
- Music Preservation Society, Inc. – Corporate Sponsor
- League of Women Voters
- Florence-Lauderdale Public Library – Summer Reading Program Sponsor
- Mars Hill Bible School – Corporate Contributor
- YMCA of Shoals – Corporate Sponsor
- Tennessee Valley Art Association – Corporate Sponsor
- Florence City Schools Education Foundation
- Leadership Alabama Class III
- Shoals Area Citizen of the Year
- Crime Stoppers