O’NEAL – Lindia Wentworth O’Neal passed away peacefully at her home April 13, 2022, after a long battle with cancer. She was 67 years old.
She was born in Jacksonville, Fla. After she married, she moved to Jesup, Ga., where she lived for more than 30 years and raised her six children. She has lived in many places and traveled the world, calling St. Marys, Ga., home for the last 17 years. Lindia was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was famous for her brownies and adored for her goodness. She was a true friend to many and “Granny” to hundreds more.
Many of us have cherished memories with Lindia. Her children especially have memories spanning a lifetime. Walking an adult daughter down the aisle; or while experiencing the loss of her own father, sitting in the old, family rocking chair accepting the comforting embrace of her sweet, young daughter, whispering “you are just what I needed;” or reading “Little House on the Prairie” huddled in the hall with pillows and blankets during a bad storm; or having peach cobbler and cinnamon toast warm and ready after school.
Of all the memories we have of Lindia, the majority center around her absolute love of Jehovah, God. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, she was a zealous preacher of the Good News about God’s Kingdom. She served as a full-time pioneer for the last eight years of her life and was instrumental in helping many individuals hear and learn the truth of God’s word.
Her strong faith was exemplified by her belief in the Bible’s promise of a resurrection. She eagerly looked ahead to a future where Jehovah God eradicates wicked conditions including sickness and death from the earth (Psalm 37:10, 11). She often assured her loved ones that if she experienced death before witnessing this momentous event, she would be resurrected in earthly paradise and would see them there soon. (John 11:25; Revelation 21:4). She has maintained this belief from the time she learned the Bible’s Kingdom message of a righteous new world when she was just 16 years old. (2 Peter 3:13; Psalm 37:29.)
She is survived by her six children Jennifer Godwin, Wendy (Kent) Smith, Jason (Erica) O’Neal, Brittany (David) Oropeza, Shanda (Jimmy) Byrd and Eddie O’Neal; 14 grandchildren, Devon (Michaela) Godwin, Ian Godwin, Ryan Thompson, Gracen Smith, Alynn (Jimmy) Rubright, Claire (Jay) Barber, Colin O’Neal, Rae’ven Oropeza, Cole Oropeza, Ashley (Lewis) Warner, Lexi Byrd, Dayton Byrd, Tanner Byrd and Gage O’Neal; and three great-grandchildren, LilliAnne Godwin, Emmett Warner and Liam Thompson; sisters, Judy (David) Johnsen, Dennise Mahoney and Christine Collins; and brothers John Wentworth, Cecil Wentworth, Billy Wentworth and David Wentworth. She was preceded in death by her father, Earland J. Wentworth; mother, Lillian Cecil Mahoney; and brother, Norman Wentworth.
Lindia will be dearly missed by all her family and friends.