Obituary of Sarah O'Neal

Sarah Fain Snow O’Neal, 92, of Jackson, GA passed away May 20, 2015, at her home. Mrs. O’Neal was born in the Panthersville Community of Dekalb County, GA., December 7, 1922. She was the fifth daughter of Fayette Clark Snow and the second daughter of Jewell Minnie Langley Snow. She was the wife of James Thayer O’Neal who passed away on April 24, 2008. She was a Georgia Master 4-Her before she graduated from Southwest Dekalb High School in June, 1941. Her studies at West Georgia College, Carrollton, GA., were interrupted by World War II. To assist in the war effort, she worked at the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington, D.C. She transferred to Atlanta after her marriage on December 23, 1945. She and her young family moved back to her husband’s home county in the early 1950’s. They raised poultry, sheep and cattle. During the middle 50’s she packed peppers for the Pimento Pepper Plant in Jackson. Later, she was the secretary of the Jackson Elementary School under principals J. M. L. Comer and Margaret McCormick. During this time she was a member of the Stark Friendship Club, the Stark United Methodist Church, their United Methodist Women and the American Legion Auxiliary Finley-Gray Post. She held leadership positions in each organization and she was a 4-H adult volunteer. She was predeceased by her sisters Louise Snow Greer and Marie Snow of Chamblee, GA., Fanny Snow Ragan of Pearl, MS., and Margaret Snow Wade of Stone Mountain, GA. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy O. and Richard E. Byrd of Jackson, GA., Mary P. and William W. Crooks, Major, U.S. Air Force (Retired) of Cibolo, TX., grandchildren, Kenneth Casey and Angela B. Byrd of Jackson, Jonathan W. Crooks of San Antonio, TX., Seaman James D. Crooks, U.S. Coast Guard of Corpus Christi, TX., great grandchild James William (J.W.) Byrd of Jackson, GA. Two sisters, Eleanor Snow Martin of Cartersville, GA., and Ina Snow Smith of Rock Hill, S.C., many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends also survive. The funeral service for Mrs. O’Neal will be Tuesday, June 2 , 11a.m. at the chapel of the Stark United Methodist Church, 1097 Halls Bridge Road, Jackson. Interment will follow immediately in the Stark United Methodist ChurchCemetery. The family will receive friends at Sherrell-Westbury Funeral Home, 212 East College Street, Jackson, Ga., Monday, June 1 from 6-8 p.m. Memorial donations may be sent to Stark United Methodist Church, 1097 Halls Bridge Road, Jackson, GA 30233. Those who wish may sign the online guest registry at www.sherrell-westburyfh.com Sherrell-Westbury Funeral Home, 212 E. College St., Jackson, is serving the O”Neal family.