Arthur Morse O'Neil

Arthur M. O’Neil, Jr., retired United Methodist minister, passed peacefully at home on August 30, 2011 in Newnan, Georgia of complications from kidney disease. He was 78 years of age. Celebrating his life and remembering him with love are his wife of 53 years, Julia Camp, formerly of Anderson, South Carolina, their daughter, Julie O’Neil Perkins (Chris) of Newnan, Georgia, their son, Arthur M. O’Neil III of Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, their daughter, Mary O’Neil Wentlent (Chris) of Greene, New York, 13 grandchildren: Sara P. Dewberry (Jason), Rebecca P. Giles (Chris), Christy Perkins, Boone O’Neil, Mollie-Emma O’Neil, Anna Wentlent, Rachel Wentlent, Luke Wentlent, Jacob Wentlent, Elizabeth Wentlent, Abigail Wentlent, Zach Wentlent, Grace Wentlent, and 3 great grandchildren: Nathan Dewberry, Sara Alice Dewberry, and Lucy Pearl Giles. He was preceded in death by his parents, the Reverend Arthur M. O’Neil, Sr. and Mary Louise Coleman O’Neil and by his only sibling, Mary Ann O’Neil Alford (Mrs. Flavius T.) all of Houston, Mississippi. Art was born November 13, 1932 in Drew, Mississippi and graduated in 1950 from Forrest Hills High School in Jackson. He graduated from Millsaps College in 1954 where he played center for the Millsaps Majors football team, sang with the Miisaps Singers, was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, worked in the school cafeteria, in the library, as a dorm assistant, and a coach for the YMCA. At graduation from Millsaps he received the Galloway Award for outstanding preaching. Between 1954 – 1967, Art was a student at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. While attending seminary, he sang with the “Miss Atlanta Show”, worked as a Gray Y Coach, and was the Youth Minister for the North Georgia United Methodist Churches of Decatur First, Dalton First, Epworth, and also at the United Methodist Church of Hammond, Louisiana. In 1957, following in the footsteps of his father (the Reverend Arthur M. O’Neil, Sr. and his grandfather (the Reverend Thomas Joseph O’Neil), Art was admitted into the Methodist Mississippi Conference. From 1957 – 1960 he was the Associate Pastor in Jackson at Leavell Woods United Methodist Church, Pastor for the Belfontaine Circuit, religion teacher, baseball and basketball coach for Wood Jr. College, Pastor for Flowood United Methodist Church and the founding Pastor for the McLauren Heights United Methodist Church in Jackson. In January of 1960 Art was transferred to the North Georgia Conference to create a unique program as Minister of Recreation and Family Life at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta. While in Georgia, he served as the pastor of the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Augusta (1963 – 1971), Milledgeville First United Methodist Church (1971-1975), St. John UMC in Atlanta (1975-1978), Newnan First UMC (1978-1983), Dalton District Superintendent (1983-1987), Administrator of Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center (1987-1991), and the Atlanta/Roswell District Superintendent (1991-1995). In June 1995 he retired from active ministry to Lake Junaluska, NC. In 1998 he again took up the mantle of ministry and served as the pastor for the Bethel United Methodist Church of Waynesville, North Caroline until 2003. Since his youth, Art held a special love for the mountains and environs of the Southeastern Conference of Lake Junaluska, near Waynesville, North Carolina. He worked there during his college years and returned often with family and church groups for retreats, conferences, and vacations. He and Julia retired in 1995 where they were active in the life and ministry of Junaluska until Art’s final illness. Art was an active member of the Junaluskans and twice served as president. He also coordinated the annual Flea Market for 8 years. In the fall of 2008, Art and Julia returned to Newnan, Georgia , where they made their home at the Commonwealth of Calumet, making new friends and renewing old friendships. As Art’s kidney disease progressed, they learned to value the staff and physicians of the RAI Dialysis Clinic of Newnan and the gentle professionalism of the Healthfield Hospice Care. Art spent his last weeks in appreciation for the many blessings of his life, in joyful anticipation of the life to come, and in thankfulness to God for the many opportunities he had to love and be loved. The worship service and celebration for his life will be held in the sanctuary of Newnan First United Methodist Church of Newnan, Georgia on Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 3:00 PM. Prior to the service; beginning at 1:30 PM, the family will be in the church parish hall to receive guests. The worship service will be conducted by by Bishop Mike Watson, Reverend Hal Brady, Reverend Bob Bowling, Reverend Gordon Goodgame, Dr. Med Roach and Reverend JoAn Kinrade; this service to be followed by the interment in Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan. In lieu of flowers, that family suggests that memorial contributions may be made in Art O’Neils’ memory to the music ministry of Newnan First United Methodist Church 33 Greenville Street Newnan, Georgia 30263. Arrangements are by McKoon Funeral Home 38 Jackson Street Newnan, GA 30263 770-253-4580. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mckoon.com.

Arthur Morse O'Neil

November 13, 1932 - August 30, 2011