Tressie Butler O'neal

Tressie O'neal

Funeral services for Mrs. Tressie Mae Butler O’Neal, of Dublin, will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, December 15, 2019, at the Williams Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 1142 Georgia Hwy 29 South in East Dublin, Georgia. Reverend Dr. Eddie L. Hixon will deliver the eulogy. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Tressie O’Neal was born on May 13, 1928, as the third child of the late Mr. Monroe Butler and Mrs. Celia Butler Clark in Laurens County. She grew up in Laurens County where she graduated from the historic Washington Street High School in Dublin. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degrees in Elementary Education from Fort Valley State College (now the Fort Valley State University). She was united in holy matrimony to the late Mr. Marvin O’Neal in 1948.

As a teacher, Mother O’Neal touched the lives of many children in the Laurens County School System where she taught for 34 years. After retirement, she continued to impact children when she opened her home daycare. She nurtured many from birth until it was time to enter school.

At an early age, she joined the Burches Gift Baptist Church. After moving to Dublin, she joined the Williams Chapel Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher, the Assistant Church Clerk, member of the Pastor’s Aide and the Senior Choir, Vacation Bible School Directress, President and Vice-President of the Senior Missionary Department, and as President of the Mother Board.

She devoted much of her time to the following organizations in various capacities including the Married Couples and Singles Fellowship (Secretary); Golden Age Choir (Secretary); American Woodmen (Banker); Burches Gift Baptist Church WMBS (President); Washington Street High School Alumni Association (President); Dublin and Laurens County Retired Teachers’ Association; National Education Association; Dublin Laurens Fort Valley State University Alumni Association (Charter Member) and the Emerald Business and Professional Women’s Club (President and Treasurer).

Her work in the community continued as she volunteered to wrap gifts at the IHS Nursing Care Center. She worked relentlessly at the polls and helped distribute absentee ballots. She was also a member of Senior Friends; and served as a volunteer for the Dasher Heights Community Benevolence Committee.



She received many meritorious awards over the years including the Certificate of Appreciation from the Veterans Administration Voluntary Service Program where received 100 hours pen, the Faithful Service from Mary Fleming Alumni in 1993, the Dedicated Service as VBS Directress in 1996; the Endurance Award by the Southside Coalition in 1996; the Dublin Married Couples and Singles Fellowship Dedicated Service Award, the Black Festival Committee Senior Citizen of the Year Award in 2003; the 10th Annual Dublin-Laurens County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade Honorary Escort in 2004; the Williams Chapel Faithful and Loyal Member Award; and the Dublin-Laurens Fort Valley State University Alumni Association Dedication Award in 2018.

Mother O’Neal was called to rest on December 10, 2019. She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings, Maggie Butler, Monroe Butler, Sr. and Varis Clark Walton.

Mother O’Neal leaves to cherish her memory and continue her legacy her daughter, Martressa O’Neal (Norman) Payne and five grandchildren, Charles (Machelle) Graves of Killeen, Texas, Tiffany Payne of Jacksonville, Florida, Marquetta Graves, Makeisha (Ervin) Melton, Michael (Tomisty) Allen, all of Dublin, eighteen great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren, one sister Pomia Jones of Covington, special caregivers, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The family is receiving friends at 423 Eastwood Drive in Dublin, and on Saturday, December 14, 2019, 5-6 PM, at the Dudley Funeral Home.

Please post condolences at ServicesbyDudley.com.

Services by Dudley Funeral Home of Dublin.