Georgianna Cohen O’Neal (February 16, 1948 – July 10, 2025)

Visitation: Friday, July 18, 2025
Visitation Time: 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Visitation Location: Postell’s Mortuary Chapel
811 North Powers Drive
Orlando, Florida

Service Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
Service Time: 11:00 AM
Service Location: St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church
1968 Bruton Boulevard
Orlando, Florida

Obituary:

Georgianna Cohen O’Neal, 77, of Gotha, departed this life on Thursday, July 10, 2025. On February 16, 1948 in Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. James Dowdell and Mrs. Georgia T. Dowdell received the present of a beautiful baby girl, Georgianna, who exuded elegance and timeless grace throughout her life.

Educated in the Public Schools of Duval County, Georgianna graduated in 1965 from New Stanton Sr. High School as a proud “Blue Devil”. She soon embraced nursing as a life-long career, encouraged by the Word from 2 Peter 1:10, “Therefore…make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.” Georgianna was passionate, and never waivered in her compassion for helping others as a dedicated nurse. Moving to the Central Florida area, she worked with Mrs. Juanell Hutto (deceased) as a nurse for the City of Orlando, serving the Police and Fire Departments with immunizations and preventative medications. After retiring from the City of Orlando, she worked In Case Management for the Insurer Brown & Brown of Florida.

Having met in 1987, Georgianna became the loving wife of Howard O’Neal on Saturday, August 28, 2010. They shared more than 38 delightful years together, which led to plenty of traveling and meeting with family and friends in Tennessee, California and all points in between.

Mrs. O’Neal would gladly volunteer her time to help anyone in medical distress. To that end, she became founder of her own healthcare company, “Need-A-Nurse?”, proudly displaying the placard on her car. She was moved to help families with sick children, sick members of the church and the Central Florida community in general. She always offered her service freely to all. Additionally, Georgianna worked for Maxim Healthcare Services Orlando, a group of Wellness Clinics, issuing Flu shots and other immunizations to work communities such as Martin Marietta Aerospace Company until her health declined.

Georgianna had a great impact on the Health Ministry of St. Mark AME Orlando, where she worked enthusiastically with the members of that ministry. As a member of St. Mark, Mrs. O’Neal was also active in the Visitation ministry, the Progressive/New Day Choir and was often the Nurse on duty at the Florence Cotton Missionary Society’s Senior Day Out. A fun-loving, easy-going person, Georgianna enjoyed playing Mahjong, and could never pass up a good laugh. Sometimes, Howard would return to the room dancing after a brief absence, which would bring the light of a smile to Georgianna’s face.

In the early hours of the morning, on Thursday, July 10, 2025, after fulfilling her calling and election, the elegant Georgianna’s work on earth was gracefully completed and is now eternal.

Georgianna’s memory will remain in the hearts of her devoted husband, Howard E. O’Neal; children, Kenyatta (Mike) Hill, Lisa Phillips, Michelle O’Neal, Shonda Lombardo, Howard A. O’Neal; 13 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren;
Sister in laws: JoAnne Winton and Debra Perry (Jeff); nephews, Dwayne Dowdell, Julius Grant(Veronica), James Dowdell; nieces, Donna Dowdell, Toya Alston (Kenneth), and Doris Davis IIII (George); 6 Great nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives, church family, and many friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 18, 2025 from 4-6PM at the mortuary. A service of celebration will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, 11:00 AM at St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1968 Bruton Boulevard, Orlando with Pastor Terence R. Gray, I, officiating. Interment: Florida National VA Cemetery, Bushnell.