Leola M. Oneal

On Wednesday, March 9, 2005, Mrs. Leola Mae O’Neal was called home to be with the Lord.Sister Leola Mae O’Neal, daughter of the late Nathaniel and Leona Baker was born on August 6, 1912 in Johnston County, North Carolina. She attended and graduated from Primary School in Johnston County and Richard B. Harris High School in Selma, North Carolina. She also attended Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina.Sis. O’Neal began her Christian journey at an early age at Springhill Baptist Church in Smithfield/Selma, North Carolina. In 1942, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland. The late Rev. James R. Grant united her in Holy Matrimony to Rev. James O’Neal on July 18, 1942. From this union they were blessed with a son, Kelvin James O’Neal. Because of their love for children, they raised Kenneth Green, Delphine Lewis, Towanda McCoy, Larry McCoy and Anthony Murphy. Sis. O’Neal was a domestic engineer and a housewife. Also in 1942, she became a faithful member of the Southern Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Ministers’ Wives and Widows, Senior Missionaries, Civic Committee, Pastor’s Aide, Seasoned Saints (senior citizens) and Advisor to the Junior Missionary Choir.She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the UBMC, Maryland Association of Ministers’ Wives and Widows, Interdenominational of Ministers’ Wives and Widows, The National Association of Ministers Wives, United Baptist Missionary Convention, Lott Carey Convention, Baptist Congress of Christian Education and the Eastside Committee. She was a lifetime member of the NAACP. Sis. O’Neal truly loved the Lord and her church family.Sis. O’ Neal was known for her jazzy hats and clothes. She could always be found shopping at Lexington Lady downtown. She also loved to talk on the telephone. She would frequently be seen talking on the telephone for 2 to 3 hours to the late Sister Essie Lowry and the late Sister Iola Grant and many of her other family members and friends.She leaves to cherish her memory and her legacy: her husband of 62 years, Rev. James O’Neal; 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; two sisters, Winne Richardson of Zebulan, N.C. and Annie Estell High of Wendell, N.C.; fourteen grandchildren, Lisa, Kevin, Kristan, Jillan, Manissa, Lakia, Kevon, James, Shawn, Nia, Jaquenette, Latasha, Jonathan, and Jermaine; five great grand children; Debris; Jordon, her Southern Baptist Church family and a large host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members and loving friends.

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Leola M. Oneal

August 6, 1912 - March 9, 2005