O`Neal, Amos Jerome

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'9Ved
A ugust 21st~ J9:f2u.:, Novenaber 27th~ 2009
Saturday December 5th, 2009
St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Virgin Gorda
Viewing 10:00 am -11:00 am
Service: 11:00 am
Oflic1ating Minister: Rev. Richard 1 H Belser
Internment: O'Neal Fam1ly Cemetary
Funeral Arrangements: Davis Funeral Home
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Survivors
Mother:
Muriel O'Nea/
Daughter:
Cassander "Sandy" 0 'Neal
Brothers:
Sisters:
Dr. Hubert 0 'Neal
D. Alien 0 'Neal
Emanue/ "Johnny " 0 'Neat
Rudne/l 0 'Neal
Maris O 'Nea/-Maduro
Carolyn O 'Neai-Henry
Sisters-in-Law:
Brothers-in-La w:
Jennifer O 'Neal
Denise 0 'Neal
Brenda 0 'Neal
De von 0 'Neal
Terrence Maduro
Orlando Henrr
Nieces:
Miche/Le Vanterpool
Kisha Madwv,
Diane O'Neal
Taneko O 'Neal
Althea 0 'Neal-Nickie
Xena O 'Neal
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Nephews:
Rupert Vanterpool, ]J:
Michael Vanterpoo/
Geoffrey Maduro
Hubert "Bobby " O'Nea/
Maurice O'Neal
Adam O 'Neal
Aaron O 'Nea/
Asa O'Neal
Elian O 'Nea/
Emanuel 0 'Neal Jr:
Rudn.e/1 0 'Neal Jr
Ricky O 'Neal
Rudolph 0 'Neal
Afi O 'Neal
Samuel O 'Neaf
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Survivors
Aunts:
Uncles:
Marina Stout
Ma~jorie Freeman
Eve Waiters
Hon. Omar Hodge
Neville Hodge
Walford Hodge
Mack Hodge
Atp;ne Hodge
Great Niece:
God-Parents:
Liliana 0 'Neat
Ogilvie and Lillie Shirley
Great Nephew:
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D 'AI1(/re 0 'Neal
Special Cousins:
Waldo O 'Nea/ and Crete/ Stout
Special Friends:
Gu//mena "Mena" Fernandez, Jacque/in e Gimenez, Derrick Lennard, lra Smith,
Alvin Horton, Dale Wh eat/ey, Sydney and Herbert George. Anthony Richardson,
Jacqui O 'Nea /, Debbie Romney-Hodge, The/maKing. Roselia Gardener, Keith
Gardener, J r., John Bell, Wendell Creque, Lula "Le/ia " Stevens, Paul and Patsy
Barone
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Many other Family, Friends and relatives..
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Eulogy
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A 1nos Jerome O' Neal affectionately known as " Romey" or " Rocky" was
born Augu st 2 1, 1952 to the late Honorable Robin son O'Neal and
M uriel Hedge in Freebottom, Tortola. The farruly moved to St. T homas,
U.S . Virgin Islands where he attended the All Saints School from l st
grade to g th grade. In 1962 the family made another move to Virgin
Gorda where he attended St. Mary 's School for one year and then
completed secondary sc hool at the BVI High School where he
graduated with three GCE subjects Hi story, English and Chemistry in
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In 1972, Romey went to New York, where he attended the Robert
Technology and Trade School and graduated in 1989 with a
Certificate in Auto Mechanics and Engine Systems. He furthered his
studies at Key Power Technical Institute and graduated in the top three of
his class. He worked full-time for Detroit Diesel and taught diesel
courses part-time at night at Key Power Technical Institute.
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On November 29, 1975 Romey became the proud father to Cassander
"Sandra II" Patrice O' Neal where he was the doted and dedicated father.
At an early age Romey was called to the
sea by his father, Robin son O'Neal, where
he learned to sail and steer power boats on
his summer vacation s. Romey was the
first B.V.I. Is lander in the late 1970 's to
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become a certified scuba diver. He
became an avid sailor and mastered the art
of sport fishing. He won several fishing
to urnaments alongside his brother and
daughter. He has been involved in sport
fis hing and started the Sport Fishi ng
Association in Virgin Gorda. He also
skippered sailing yachts for North South
Yacht Charters w hen they were centered
in Virgin Gorda. Romey has a
background and knowledge of the history of the British Virgin Islands ,
reads ex tensively, and can relay all the na.m es of the cays and islands
s ince he has sailed and navigated around them for the past 40 years.
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In L993, he worked for the Moorings where he supervised the
mechanical repairs of the yacht fleet. Later that year, he worked for
Traffic Department in Virgin Gorda where he remained for eight (8)
years. He transferred to the M inistry of Natural Resources in 2001 until
2007. His duties included the supervis ing of the agricultural
exhibition s and attaining a balanced budget of the yearly Farmer's
Week for three (3) years , manager of the agriculture substation in Virgin
Gorda, and lands officer in the Ministry. As the manager of the Virgin
Gorda agric ulture sub-station, he stabili zed the station by dealing with
several staff issues and renegotiated a favorable lease with the St.
Mary's Episcopal Church and the Government to prevent the
government from losing the long term lease of the agricu lture station
lands. Th is was necessary because the Church was not happy wi th the
dilapi dated state of the station and lack of planting. Romey planted
fruit trees imported from the Eastern Caribbean as well as local fruit
trees. Local fruits included the cashew and sugar-apple trees which
were dying ou t. Hence, a program was started with the local farmers to
replant the island with trees including ornamen tals. A small live stock
program was also revived under Romey 's watch, and a period of
renewed interest in agriculture was realized because of his efforts.
After the fami ly decided to renovate the existi ng W heel House into
commercial spaces, Romey's keen interest in pool , dominos and darts
inspired him to opened and operate his bar and restaurant in 2005 which
he renamed the Wheel House. Romey continued to operate this
business unti l his untimely passing on November 27, 2009. He wil1
always be remembered as a loving son, brother, father, uncl e and friend .
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Tributes
To M y Beloved Son.
Gone Too Soon .. . With a sorrowful hean. 1 write this message and pray that your deep sleep came very peacefuL
Romcy. my first born. sometimes things work out well. sometimes life is good . Li ke you 're given a son to care for
and love. So you try to bring hi m up well, let him know how import ant he is to you and before you know i t. he's
on adu lt looking you in the eye and gri nn i ng wit h that smile that comes ~traight from the heart and you think to
yoursel f. " Hey. he turned out good.'' And your own heart fills up with love again. A good man and a wonderful
son who gave me comfort from day to day. 1 will miss you and we hope to meet again some day.
L ove you always.
Mommie
To M y Only Daddy:
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W ords cannot describe the empti ness and pain I feel inside. How do I describe the man that was my driving force
and that I will forever miss·? My Daddy was a plain spade. a diamond in the ruff, one-of-a kind, loving and
compassionate. 1 am rocked tO the core by your sudden and swift departure. but God knows bc~l. In your death, I
have a much beuer understandtng of you and why you operated the way you did.
You have always been a loving father though at times we dtd not always agree. Playi ng domi noes. cards. pool,
and fish111g will never be the same again. You may be physically gone, but you will never be forgotten . I may
not be ab le to call you D addy the way I use to but I will always he your ·'Bnotste" & " Sandra 11" . and nothing can
ever change tha t. Tmiss you Daddy, and l love you dearly, but God loves you mo~ t. We never ~ay good bye. so
see you later on the other side. Love you now. always and fore ver.
Your Lovwg Daughter
Sandra
To M y Brother:
You will always have a special place in my heart. Until
we
m ~e t
again.
Love Maris & Family
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To My Brother.
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Romey. we've laughed a lot and had many di. agreements. However, you've bL:en a brother that shared a love likl!
no other. You've mentored my children as youngs ters and for that Tam grateful. You will <t lways be loved and I
will miss you until we meet again.
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" He shall cover you with his pinions tw d you shall f ind reji1ge under his wings his faithf ulness shall be a
shield and buckler. "
Carolyn "Red"
Wri ting this was reall y hard for me to do because 1 am going to miss you, especially going li~hing on the boat and
coming back w ith a boatload, most of the time. I wi ll definitely not forget the tirst time I saw you bollom ftshi ng
and you perfec ted the left hand jab, as Daddy called 11, you had all of us cracking up that day. Uncle Romey [love
you and you wi ll definitel y be missed, RI P.
Love. Dianne
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Tributes Cont'd
T o Our Uncle.
Uncle Romey. thank you for all that you've done for us as your niece and nephews. You've taught u'> how to take
our firc;t steps and !>harcd your passion of the sea with us by teaching us how 10 sw1m As youngsters, we've expenenced many d1sappo1n1ments and broken hearts but you would always rem1nd us that you were there and
know that we arc always loved hy you. You were a fierce protector and one ol our father-figures and would challenge anyone 10 try and mes wllh us. and we've never c;een anyone stand up to that challenge. We wall remember
the great limes and w11l m1ss you.
" Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. " (I Th essalonians 4: 17)
Michelle 'Shellie", Rupcrt. Jr. and Michael
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"The pai n w1ll go away. wi th time"
"It wo n't he so had. after awhile"
So say these fr iend~ of mine...
But they have never lost an uncle as cool as mine ....
The pain will never g.o away
Yet 11 softens ~ome. with time
M y uncle IS gone. it hurts to say
I'll never be "tust tine"
Tho another year has come and gone
I hold our memones 1n my heart
They dance there. as if to ~ong
From that 1 know 1'11 never pan
A time goe by year after year
And the paan heg1n to sofwn
I know that 11's alnght to tear
And live with my memones, more often .....
M ay ourjourney continue in our memories.
Love you uncle Romcy
Love Bobby.
Uncle Romey was a lovi ng man. Although he got mad at people sometimes he was always I here for you and me.
As he spent hi~ la~t few hours 1 would have loved to henr his lc.ast words as he spoke.
Your Nephew,
El ian
Rorncy:
Thanb for g1ving me the la t moments o f your hfe. T w11l always remember the good times we shared together. [t's
"0 hard to lose a good man hke you Romey you w1ll always live 111 my heart. Love you and rest in peace
Love Jacquelin
M r. O"Ncal was a respected Business Cu~tomer at Fi rst Caribbean International Bank . H i~ presem:c will he
greatly m issed along with his kind appreciation to the staff. which he showed by bringing fres h fruits on various
occasions. Our prayers Me with his fami ly and friend s and we hope that they rin d com fort in God. May his soul
rest in eternal pc<!ce
Management and Staff
F1rs1 Canbbeun lnrernational Bank
Y1rg1n Gorda Branch