Tera O'Neal

Tera (Stricklin) O’Neal

 October 8, 1942 - November 3, 2024

Tera O’Neal, 82, of Enville, Tennessee, died on Sunday, November 3, 2024, in Jackson. She was born on October 8, 1942, to Jack and Mollie (Franks) Stricklin.

Tera grew up in the Hardin County area of Big Ivy in a farming family that valued community service. Tera learned gardening, sewing, and cooking from her mother, a master cook. She learned civic engagement from her father, sister, and brothers.

Tera graduated from Savannah Central High School in 1959 and Florence State College in 1963. She taught English, history, and psychology at Hardin County High School from 1963 until her retirement in 1992. She was cheer sponsor from 1964 to 1972.

Tera married Jack O’Neal on June 17, 1972, in a garden wedding surrounded by the creeks and fields of Big Ivy. Their first home was the Methodist church parsonage in Enville, while the home where they would raise their family was being built just outside Enville. Tera was a faithful member of the Enville United Methodist Church, the Enville Community Club and Jackson First United Methodist Church. She volunteered through the United Methodist Women and coordinated food for church dinners. She helped organize a monthly luncheon for seniors and a thrift store to benefit the church’s missions program. Tera’s heart was with her family, church, and the Enville community.

Tera is survived by her son, Bobby O’Neal of Union City; daughter, Lee Ann O’Neal of Houston, Texas; granddaughters Madisan O’Neal of Enville and Ilyana Carson of Henderson; and nieces Becky Rose of Savannah and Beth Bates of Jackson. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Jack; brothers JB and MC Stricklin; and sister Joyce Ann Stricklin.

Tera cherished her caregivers, Mrs. Jane McCaig, Ms. Odesa Newbern, Ms. Evangline VanBuren, and Mr. Silas Duke.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 9, with Brother Keith Carlson officiating. Burial will follow at Enville Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Crook Avenue from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday and again from noon to 2:00 p.m. Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now, Enville Woodlawn Cemetery or another charity of your choice.