Mary O'Neal

O'NEAL MARY FAYE (LANDRUM) - 75, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away on August 1, 2012 at Park West Hospital, in the company of children, grandchildren, and siblings. Faye is survived by her beloved mother, Mary Ethel (Lindsey) Landrum, of Millbrook, Alabama and all of her four siblings, who were very far apart in their ages, but very close in their hearts-lifelong friends: sister Eva Jo (Mrs. John Edward) Thrasher of Auburn, Alabama; sister and brother-in-law Helen and Jacob Barnhill of Millbrook, Alabama; brothers and sisters-in-law Bill and Cheryl Landrum of La Fayette, Alabama and Bobby and Mandy Landrum of Auburn, Alabama; daughters and sons-in law Glenda and Greg Tolliver of Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Donna and Tom Walker of Knoxville, Tennessee; and sons and daughters-in-law Lindsey and Wendy (Shands) O'Neal of Jefferson City, Tennessee and James and Peggy (Gann) O'Neal, recently relocated to Knoxville from Talofofo, Guam; as well as nine grandchildren. Faye was preceded in death by her son, Michael Glenn O'Neal (1971), her father William Herman Landrum, Sr. (2004) and her husband, Weyman Glenn O'Neal (2005). Faye's hometown was LaFayette, Alabama, where her parents were proprietors of a general store for 40 years. She graduated from Andrew College, Cuthbert, Georgia and earned her teaching certification at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her first teaching job was in Conyers, Georgia, where she met her future husband. While bringing up their five children, she briefly taught kindergarten at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church and then served many years as a volunteer teacher for children's Sunday school and vacation Bible school programs. In later years, she provided infant childcare in her home. For a large portion of her life, she was a homemaker, and in that role, continued to be a teacher to her own children. What did she pass along? Help other people when they need help. Listen for what other people need and respond. People are more important than things and they are more important than your schedule: give them number one priority. Go out of your way. Try to treat everyone well. Talk to the smallest child like a fellow person, because he is one. Teach children, every time you get the chance: they will need to know the things you know. Try to follow the teachings of Jesus every day. Pray. Keep an open mind. Laugh every time you get the chance. Don't say "can't"; just try. Prepare for an emergency, just in case. Learn to swim. Take good care of yourself. Some things were just meant to be. Faye was an active, involved member of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church and over the years also participated in many community organizations, assisting with the founding of Gulf Park Pool and serving as a long term volunteer with Gulf Park Swim Team, as well as school PTAs and sports programs at Cedar Bluff and Karns. She was an early supporter of West Knoxville youth soccer. She enjoyed years of cards with her bridge club and team bowling with her husband. For many years, she regularly packaged groceries for FISH hunger ministry. She was known for reaching out to personally and practically help others. Where there was need, she often noticed and did something about it. Faye and Glenn were blessed with 45 years of marriage. They lived in Florence, Alabama; Palo Alto, California; and Knoxville, where Glenn worked as a branch chief with Tennessee Valley Authority and after his retirement taught classes and prepared taxes for H & R Block Premium, Cedar Bluff Rd. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and have a funeral service at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, August 4, at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 6900 Nubbin Ridge Rd. Knoxville, 37919. Graveside to follow in Highland Memorial Cemetery. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers, to the HVAC Fund, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary, Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences may be made to www.rosemortuary.com