Kelvin James O'Neal

Dr. Kelvin James O'Neal, son of the late Rev. James and Leola O'Neal, was born January 29, 1956, in Baltimore, Maryland. After receiving a call from God saying that he needed another trumpeter for the Heavenly Orchestra, Kelvin suddenly departed his earthly life on Saturday December 18, 2010 to accept God's call. Kelvin received his formal education in the Baltimore City Public School System, where he graduated from Frederick Douglass Senior High School. He continued his education at St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina and pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Kelvin later transferred to and graduated from Morgan State College, with a Bachelor and Maters Degree in Music Education. Kelvin received an Honorary Doctorate in Sacred Music from Eastern Theological Seminary in Lynch burg, VA. Kelvin accepted Christ at an early age at Southern Baptist Church, under the Pastorate of the late Rev. James R. Grant. He was an active member of the Southern Baptist Church Make Chorus and music ministries Under the leadership of the late Rev. Nathaniel Higgs, Kelvin could be seen and heard playing his trumpet, during the early morning service at Southern Baptist Church. While Kelvin's church membership remained at Southern Baptist Church, his love for God and the music ministry allowed him to be a faithful son of Southern Baptist Church, his love for God and the music ministry allowed him to be a faithful son of Southern Baptist Church and Sharon Baptist Church. Kelvin was invited to perform for Rev. Dr. Alfred C. D. Vaughn's Installation as Pastor, and he remained a vibrant leader of the Wind Ensemble for 24 years. At an early age, Kelvin began taking private trumpet lessons from the late great James Holliman. Mr. Holliman was more than a teacher to Kelvin, he was a mentor and like a “second father” to him. Whenever M. Holliman called, (usually around 5:00am), Kelvin was quick to answer. Kelvin followed in his mentor's footsteps by becoming the Director of The Three Clef's Orchestra and playing for the annual Blue Ribbon Tea. Mr. Holliman also told Kelvin to strive to be the best musician he could be, while always remaining a consummate professional. In 1986, Kelvin was united in holy matrimony to his childhood sweetheart, the form Pamela Arlease Moore-Smith. From this union, they were blessed with four daughters; Lisa Kristan, Jillan, Marissa, and one son; Kelvin, Jr. Kelvin was a life-long educator. His profession was being a teacher, but he was much more to his students. Kelvin was a mentor, surrogate father, friends, counselor and disciplinarian to his students. He began his teaching career as a student teacher in the Baltimore County Public School System. Kelvin later joined the Baltimore City Public School System, where he was a music educator for nearly 30 years. Within that time, he taught at Alexander Hamilton Elementary School, Edgewood Elementary School, Robert W. Coleman Elementary School, Frederick Douglass Senior High School, Lake Clifton/Easter High School. Using the talents God gave him, Kelvin began teaching instrumental music at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Institute of Music, Southern Baptist Church Vacation Bible School, and for more than twenty years, he served as an instructor in the Academic Division of the James Cleveland Gospel Music Workshop of America. Kelvin shared his time and talents with many churches and organizations across the country. His life accomplishments are too numerous to be fully conveyed, within the limits of this obituary. Some highlights include; serving as Chairman of the PI Omega Talent Hunt Committee for fifteen years and in 2008 being named Man of the Year from the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He founded and directed O'Neal & Company and the Lake Clifton Eastern High School Jazz Combo. He also directed the Eubie Blake Jazz Bank, the National Baptist Pre-convention Musical Orchestra, and the Sharon Baptist Church Wind ensemble. He was also a member of the Big Daddy Stallins Blues Band. Kelvin leaves to cherish his legacy, his wife of twenty-four years, Pamela O'Neal, four daughters; Lisa Smith-Dennis (Kevin Dennis), Kristan O'Neal, Jillan O'Neal, and Marissa O'Neal; one son; Kelvin O'Neal, Jr., who preceded him in death; four grandchildren; Korie, Kristopher, Josslyn, and Brooklyn; four god-children; Dameion Woodard, Kendra Allen, Wayne Gilmore, and Mykal Gilmore, who preceded him in death, three brothers; Kenneth Greene, Larry McCoy, and Anthony Murphy; two sisters; Delphine Lewis and Tawanda Jones; a mother-in-law; Vivian Smith; two sister-in-law; Renee Smith and Phyllis Smith; long time friends; Rev. Alfred C. D. Vaughn, Scott Washington, Wayne Gilmore, Warren Hood II, Donald Milburn, Leonard Foust, Joe Thomas, Joyce Woodard, James Dow, Elizabeth Butler, the Southern Baptist and Sharon Baptist Church families, The Brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephew, cousins, other relatives and friends.

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Kelvin James O'Neal

January 29, 1956 - December 18, 2010