Nancy O'Neal

Nancy Johns O'Neal passed away April 24, 2018. A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral of Shreveport on Friday, April 27, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. with the dean and cathedral clergy officiating. There will be a reception following in the Garden Room. Nancy was predeceased by her beloved husband of 56 years, Benjamin Franklin O'Neal, Jr., her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Barron Johns, her brother, Barron Johns, Jr., and son-in-law, Brian Johnson. Surviving are her four children and their spouses: Jane O'Neal deBessonet and Cary; Dr. Barron Johns O'Neal and Mary; Lisa O'Neal Childs and Alvin; and Mimi O'Neal Johnson. Also surviving are her twelve grandchildren: Barron, Jr. and wife Jen, Pearce and wife Grey, Cole and Elizabeth O'Neal; Lear deBessonet and husband Tom Gray, Mimi deBessonet McIntosh and husband Braden; William Childs and wife Kathryn, Lex Childs and wife Kamarie, and Claire Childs; Philip, Patrick and Abbie Johnson; seven great-grandchildren; niece, Rebecca Johns Slack of Baton Rouge; and loving companion, Jim Gibson. Nancy graduated from the University of Texas cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. While there she served on the Students' Assembly, Student-Faculty Cabinet, Orange Jackets, was president of her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, and was a Good Fellow. Nancy was a member of the Colonial Dames of America, the Junior League, the Shreveport Club, Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club, and St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral. She enjoyed reading, playing bridge, painting and spending time with her children and grandchildren at the family farm, Forest Home Plantation. Honoring Nancy as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Barron O'Neal, Jr., Pearce O'Neal, Cole O'Neal, William Childs, Lex Childs, Philip Johnson and Patrick Johnson and grandsons-in-law, Tom Gray and Braden McIntosh. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials may be made to St. Mark's Cathedral, 908 Rutherford St., Shreveport, LA 71104 or St. Mark's School, 2785 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport, LA 71115 or to a charity of the donor's choice.