Florence Carolyn O’Neill

Florence O’Neill ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Hilton Funeral Home on Mar. 16, 2026.Born on the 4th of July 1940, in Camden, Arkansas, Florence Carolyn O'Neill always loved the fireworks on her birthday. She was the daughter of the late Ottis A. and Florence E. (Culver) Gilleland. Carolyn, most recently of Boyds, MD, passed away on March 12, 2026, having shined as brightly in life as the fireworks she loved so much. She was fiercely loyal to her late husband of 54 years William Clark O'Neill, Jr., her sons William Clark O'Neill III and Brian Ottis O'Neill, and to her daughters-in-law Nancy and Lee O'Neill. She was "Grandmom" to Mikayla, Alex, Brandon, Leanna, Mia, Julia, Malachy, Libby, Riley, Bella, and Clara. She is survived by her sisters: Paula Rhodes and her husband Rick of Richardson, Texas, as well as Janet Gilleland and her wife Beckie of Gilmer Texas. Along with her husband, Carolyn was preceded in death by two grandsons, Brian (BJ) and Matthew, as well as one sister, Angela Gladden.In 1988, Carolyn and Bill moved to Houston, Texas, and in 1998 they moved to Pearland, Texas, where they lived until his death in 2019. Carolyn then moved to Maryland to be closer to her sons and their families. She enjoyed the next seven years spending time with her sons, their wives, grandchildren, extended family, and friends. She spent those years traveling with family, attending Capitals games (Logan Thompson was her favorite) and other sporting events, visiting colleges to see her grandchildren, and relaxing at the beach. Always engaging to talk to, she remained active in her church (which was always important to her), book club, and driving herself to her other activities right up until the week she passed away.Prior to retirement she had a forty-year professional career, first as a high school speech and drama teacher after receiving her bachelor's degree from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and then as a psychologist after earning her master's degree in psychology from Bowie State University. She worked for United Communities Against Poverty in Maryland helping displaced homemakers. In Houston she worked as an intake counselor at the Harris County Psychiatric Hospital, as a counselor at MHMRA, and as a guidance counselor at Mount Carmel and St. Pius X high schools. She finished her career as an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Houston-Downtown.A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Hilton Funeral Home, 22111 Beallsville Road, Barnesville, MD 20838 with a rosary recited at 6:30pm. Services will be held, Friday, March 20, 2026 at 11:00am at Mother Seton Catholic Church, 19951 Father Hurley Blvd, Germantown, MD 20874 with Father Ubau officiating. The interment will be on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 11:00am at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX, 77038.In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Brian ONeill Jr. Foundation, https://www.brianoneilljrfoundation.org/.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.