Nell O'Neal

Nell Rose Self O'Neal, 90, formerly of Little Rock and a long-time educator and political advocate, died Thursday, August 27, 2015, at her daughter's home in Houston, TX, after a long illness. She was born Feb. 19, 1925, in Glenwood, AR, the daughter of Jewell E. and Nan Bankston Self. The fact that her father was the mayor of Glenwood did much to foster her early interest in politics, a passion that she sustained throughout her life. Nell attended Glenwood public schools and graduated valedictorian in the class of 1942. She was married to Ken O'Neal, her high-school sweetheart, in April 1943, and accompanied him across the country as he trained with the U.S. Navy. They eventually landed in Long Beach, CA, where she worked as a welder in the local shipyards. She returned to Glenwood to live with her parents and have her first child. Nell was a member of First United Methodist Church and the local chapter of the Eastern Star. She and her family lived in Glenwood until 1959. After a year in Monticello, she settled in Little Rock, where she lived until 2010. Nell's academic career began with classes at night and weekends at Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia. She finally received her Bachelor's degree from Little Rock University, and a Master's in Education from Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway in 1966. After teaching a short time in local elementary schools, she joined the Arkansas State School for the Blind, where she served as principal of the Special Education Unit until her retirement in 1995. Her work at the blind school was the culmination of a career that was devoted to the education of handicapped children. Nell was a life-long member of the Democratic Party and was active in local politics where she was a frequent visitor in the halls of the state Capital. Never one to withhold her opinions, she was famous for lambasting politicians, earning her the moniker "Give 'em hell, Nell". She gave her time, energy and funds to a host of liberal causes, and was always active in political campaigns, both local and national. She belonged to the Sierra Club, the National Organization for Women and the American Legion Auxiliary. If politics were her greatest passion, opera was close behind. Nell used a high-tech (for its day) short-wave radio to tune in to the Metropolitan Opera Saturday broadcast from her home in Glenwood in the 1950s. After moving to Little Rock she became a frequent patron of the Memphis Opera and had seen "La Boheme" so many times, she said she could sing the lines herself. Nell is survived by three children, Dan O'Neal and his wife, Carol, of Denton, Texas, Rik O'Neal and his wife, Joanne Lannin, of Gorham, Maine and Terri Gordon and her husband, John, of Houston, Texas, who cared for her during the last years of her life. She had eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, September 1, 2015, in the Glenwood Cemetery with Rev. Lonnie M. Landers, Sr. officiating. Visitation will be Monday, 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.