Julia Camp O'Neil

Julia Camp O'Neil, 88, of Newnan, Georgia passed away Monday, May 11, 2026, at the home of her daughter, Julie Perkins. She was born January 31, 1938, in Anderson, South Carolina to the late Dr. E. W. 'Ned' Camp and Julia Thompson Camp. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her three brothers, Dr. E. W. 'Ed' Camp of Anderson, South Carolina, Dr. Tom Camp of Jasper, Alabama, and Bill Camp of Sacramento, California. Julia was a 1956 graduate of Hanna High School in Anderson where she enjoyed being a cheerleader and participated in many social activities; she was also active in the religious organizations at Trinity Methodist Church where her parents were founding members. She attended two years of college at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia where she studied music. In August 1958, she was married to the Rev. Arthur Morse O'Neil, Jr of Mississippi. She was a proud cheerleader of her husband's ministry as they served churches ranging from circuit churches in Mississippi to an associate position in Atlanta to founding a church in Augusta to serving established churches in Milledgeville, Sandy Springs, and Newnan. She worked alongside Art to mentor young ministerial families when Art served twice as a district superintendent and published books that sought to help women juggle the challenges of being a ministerial partner. She served as an Elderhostel leader when Art was the director of the former Simpsonwood Methodist Retreat Center and became an integral part of the Lake Junaluska community when they retired there in 1995 serving as president of the Junaluska Women's Club for several years. Julia and Art had deep and lasting connections with Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. Although they had not known each other as youth, they both had grown up loving that piece of Methodist heritage. Under Julia's creative direction, their Junaluska home became a warm and inviting place for friends and family to gather over the years, being charmed with visits on the broad porch, being fed body and soul with filling food and vibrant, meaningful conversation, and where her grandchildren came to know the joy of playing and being children who were deeply loved by their grandparents. Even if she could not attend a recital or a presentation, Julia was still a cheerleader, interested in all they were doing and cheering them on from afar. As Art's health declined, they moved to Newnan, Georgia to be close to their daughter Julie and her family there. After Art's death, Julia lived for over ten years at Wesley Woods, the Methodist Retirement Center, until an untimely fall that eventually led to her coming to live with Julie. She spent two weeks of being loved and feeling safe as the family made their home a special place that now included her. When Julia passed, she was surrounded by all of her children. Julia's funeral will be a private family-led service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan. A public visitation will be held Saturday, May 16, from 2:30 - 3:30 at McKoon Funeral Home at 38 Jackson Street, Newnan. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contribution can be made to the Newnan First United Methodist Church, 33 Greenville Street, Newnan, Georgia earmarked for the Friendship Committee whose cards, visits, and remembrances helped her feel included in her church family. Survivors include her children Julie O'Neil Perkins (Chris) of Newnan; Arthur M. O'Neil, III (Melodie) of Junaluska, North Carolina; and Mary O'Neil Wentlent (Chris) of Greene, New York; grandchildren Sara Perkins Dewberry of Newnan, Rebecca Perkins Giles (Chris) of Milledgeville, Georgia; Christy Perkins Ellison (Will) of LaGrange, Georgia; Boone O'Neil of Washington, DC, Mollie-Emma O'Neil of Athens, Georgia, Tobin Kvalvik of Asheville, North Carolina, MacKensie Kvalvik of Durham, North Carolina, Tessa Kvalvik of Durham, North Carolina, Anna Wentlent of Vienna, Austria, Rachel Buchanan (Jason) of Concord, New Hampshire, Dr. Luke Wentlent (Emily) of Marietta, New York, Jacob Wentlent (Jessica) of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Dr. Elisabeth Campbell (Harry) of Homer, New York, Abigail Wentlent (Sam Freund) of Haverhill, Massachusetts, Dr. Zachariah Wentlent of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Grace Wentlent of Rochester, New York; great-grandchildren Mason Dewberry, Nathan Dewberry, Sallie Dewberry, Lucy Giles, Austin Giles, Charlotte Giles, Julie Beth Ellison, Jack Wentlent, Amos Campbell, Mallory Campbell, and Hazel Freund Wentlent. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mckoon.com McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory (770) 253-4580.

Julia Camp O'Neil

January 31, 1938 - May 11, 2026