Atkinson County GaArchives Obituaries.....O'Neal, Thomas Powell January 11, 1917 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Shirley M. Durden dawned@dishmail.net January 17, 2008, 9:55 pm Coffee County Progress, Thursday 8-5-1954 OBIT that appeared in Douglas Paper: Rev. Thomas P. O'Neal, a well known Baptist Minister of Pearson, GA died suddenly Thursday, January 11, 1917. At the time of his death he was visiting a neighbor. He complained of feeling ill and called for medicine. As the lady brought him the medicine, he leaned back in his chair and smiled, and passed into the great beyond. Mr. O'Neal was 81 years of age last March. He came to Coffee Co. from SC several years before the war. his first wife was Mary Trowell a sister of Mr. John Trowell, a good citizen of this county. His last wife was the widow of Mr. Jim Douglas, who survives him. He leaves four children, Mrs. S.V. Jeffords of Waycross, Ga.; R. L. Oneal of Alapaha, GA; Mrs. D. O. Rivers of Lake City, FL; and Mrs. J.M. Tanner of Pearson, GA. He leaves 47 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. Thomas P. and Mary Emma Trowell O'Neal has 9 children but only 1 was a son. If anyone is researching this family please contact me. Shirley McMillan Durden Mr. Oneal came to Georgia as a school teacher and taught several schools in Coffee Co. He aught one school in Douglas soon after the war. He was always a man of good morals and finally entered the Ministry. He was an active traveling Preacher for 38 years. He did the work of a Pioneer. Went from place to place, on foot, on horse back, taught school, preached and exhorted and in this way sowed Coffee county down with the seeds of learning and Gospel truth. He was the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Mr. Oneal was also a man of public spirit. He represented his county in the legislature at one time. He was also Tax Receiver and County Surveyor. In all these places of public trust he was true and faithful and did his duty as he understood it. Mr. Oneal was a model soldier. He was member of Co. "F" 4th GA Calvary and was Lieutenant of his company. He was a large portly man with a long black beard and made a fine appearance on horseback. He was on the Pension Roll and wore a Cross of Honor. There are many things in the life of this good man that would be interesting but I have not space in this article to speak of it all. I will tell one incident to show that Mr. Oneal was a brave soldier and a good commander. He distinguished himself at the fall of Fort McAlister. With 145 men he held a Yankee army of 18,000 men at bay for six hours. He was the last man to fall back into the Fort. While the battle was raging, and Oneal was on horseback directing his men, six Yankees suddenly appeared within 75 yards of Oneal and called to him to halt, at the same time leveled their guns on him. He lay low on the off side of his horse and dashed into the Fort. His horse was killed but Oneal made the Fort with safety. Mr. Oneal was a man with good qualities of both head and heart and made himself useful in his day and generation, but will be best remembered and longest loved as a plain Baptist Preacher. He organized and served a great many churches in Coffee county and continued to travel and preach as long as he lived. He was not classed as a great preacher but was a good thinker and was more of a teacher than a preacher. His delivery was earnest, plain and convincing. Away back in the seventies soon after he began preaching, I heard him preach a sermon at Mt. Pleasant (the Byrd Church) on the subject, "Faith, Hope and Charity". The sermon made a profound impression on all who heard it and is remembered by many to this day. Mr. Oneal did not fear death or the Judgement. He fought a good fight and kept the Faith. As father, husband, friend and Pastor, he was true and faithful and many will call him blessed. He requested that a plain tombstone be placed at his grave with an inscription something like the following THOMAS P. O'NEAL ("A Sinner Saved by Grace") Departed this life, January 11, 1917, and thus another Father in Israel has fallen. We shall miss Brother Oneal and perhaps never see his like again. He cannot come to us but we can go to him. He lived well and finished his work. May he rest in peace. Additional Comments: Thomas Powell O'Neal m. Mary Emma Trowell Robert Lee O'Neal m. Colista Jowers (Robert Lee was named for General Robert E. Lee) my grandmother, Della O'Neal m. Frank E. Luke my mother, Leola Luke m. Lawton R. McMillan Lee & Colista had 11 children. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/atkinson/obits/o/oneal1033nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb