James O'Neal

On Wednesday, January 25, 2006, Rev. James O’Neal, after suffering for many years from dementia, was called home to be with the Lord.Rev. James O’Neal the eldest son of the late Fannie and Oscar O’Neal Sr. was born on March 24, 1915 in Selma, North Carolina. He was educated in the Selma, North Carolina school system and completed his formal education at the old Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in Baltimore, Maryland.Rev. O’Neal accepted Christ at an early age at The Spring HillBaptist Church in Selma, North Carolina. Upon moving to Baltimore, Maryland in 1941, he joined Southern Baptist Church under the late Rev. James R. Grant.In 1942 James O’Neal was united in holy matrimony to the late Leola Mae Baker on July 18, 1942 by the late Rev. James R. Grant at Southern Baptist Church. From this union they were blessed with a son, Kelvin James O’Neal; because of their love for children, the were also blessed to raise Kenneth Green, Delphine Lewis, Towanda McCoy, Larry McCoy and Anthony Murphy.Rev. O’Neal was very interested in studying the gospel and upon being called to preach the gospel he was licensed and ordained on January 14th, 1951 by the late Rev. James R. Grant. Rev. O’Neal was an associate minister and a member of the Senior Citizens (Seasoned Saints) of Southern Baptist Church. Upon the long illness and passing of Rev. Grant in 1965, Rev. O’Neal was selected as the Interim Pastor on October 4, 1965. Rev. O’Neal along with the search committee was responsible for bringing forth the name of Rev. Nathaniel Higgs to the Southern Baptist Church congregation and on November 7, 1966, Rev. Higgs was appointed and became the third pastor of Southern Baptist Church.Rev. O’Neal was employed by The Gardner Spring Mattress Factory for eight years and then by The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company for thirty years, as a custodian and mail carrier. In the spring of 1980 Rev. O’Neal retired after many joyous years at BG &E.He was a member of The Baptist Congress of Christian Education, Lott Carey Convention, Unite Baptist Missionary Convention, The Hampton Ministers Conference and Organist Guild, The Baptist Ministers Conference, The Baptist Ministers Evening Conference, Lifetime member of the NAACP, and a member and Past Master of The Prince Hall Masons Lodge #120.Rev. O’Neal was well respected and loved in his community. He was a handyman who loved to fix and build things around the house and he also loved to garden in his spare time. The running joke in the family was that his wife, the late Leola O’Neal could almost kill a plant, and he could bring it back to life. He also enjoyed photography and reading The Bible with his best friend Rev. Robbie Morrison. He and Rev. Morrison could often be found quoting scriptures and analyzing the stories of The Bible either at church or at his home.He loved to travel especially with the Southern Baptist Church family to numerous conventions, spiritual retreats and banquets, but let us not forget the trip to the Holy Land with Rev. Higgs sitting on a camel. Lastly, because of Rev. O’Neal’s love for sweets, the ladies of Southern Baptist Church would always make sure that at every occasion their was at least one coconut cake and one sweet potato pie, and because he loved sweets he could make and amazing walnut cake.He leaves to cherish in his memory and his legacy his four sons, Kelvin O’Neal, Kenneth Green, Larry McCoy and Anthony Murphy; two daughters Towanda McCoy and Delphine Lewis; two daughters-in-law, Pamela O’Neal and Sheila Richardson-Green; fourteen grandchildren, Lisa, Kevin, Dristan, Jillan, Marissa (Tarissa), Lakia, Keon, Nia, James, Shawn, Jaquenetta, Latasha, Jonathan and Jermaine; and six great grandchildren; a god daughter, Rev. Deloris Jordan; and a best friend Rev. Robbie Morrison, His Southern Baptist Church family and large host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and loving friends.

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James O'Neal

March 24, 1915 - January 25, 2006