O'Neal Messick

Verbia O'Neal Messick was born in Goshen, Alabama just after midnight on October 15, 1936 to Verbia Travis and Mary Lizzie Messick. He was the fourth of six children and the youngest brother. His family moved to Abbeville, Alabama when he was only three, establishing his deep connection to the rolling pastures, pine forests, and fertile soil of Brown’s Crossroads in Henry County. His family nickname was “little brother” which eventually became just “Brother.” He was known as “Uncle Brother” to his siblings’ children. Uncle Brother was the playful, fun, and slightly mischievous uncle. His favorite music was the sound of children playing.

He graduated from Abbeville High School in 1955, where he excelled in sports, playing football, basketball, baseball, and track. A football scholarship led him to Troy State where he met his wife, Mary Hazel. The year 1959 was a significant year for the Messicks: O’Neal graduated from Troy, accepted a job teaching math at Baldwin County High School, and married Mary Hazel Oliver on November 26, 1959.

Over the years, O’Neal wore many hats in his 33 years as an educator in Baldwin County.

Roles included head football coach, high school mathematics teacher, assistant principal, principal of Bay Minette Elementary, and then principal for eight years at Foley High School. He retired as the Director of Federal Programs in the county office. His proudest achievement as an educator was bringing the US Air Force JROTC program to Foley High School, the first JROTC program in the county. His lasting impact is routinely felt when former students and players share their stories of his influence on their lives.

Aside from these roles, he also served for eight years in the Alabama National Guard. He actively served his community as a Kiwanis member and president; built numerous home ramps locally to help families with mobility and safety; and participated on the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team across the US for over 20 years as an expert chainsaw

operator. He held seats on the Board of the Baldwin County Federal Credit Union and the

Board of Directors for the Baldwin County Department of Human Resources. He was an avid gardener, and his abundant vegetable garden fed many friends, neighbors, and family members for decades. O'Neal was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Bay Minette.

O’Neal is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Wiley Messick, Doug Messick, and Jac Messick.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Hazel, his three children, Karen (David) Avery, Dendy (Marti) Messick and Mark (Heather) Messick. His beloved six grandchildren are Kyle Avery, Maddy Messick, Elyssa Messick, Natalie Messick, Victoria Messick, and Mary Messick. He is also survived by his sisters, Lucy Heller of St. Augustine, Florida, and Jane Murphy of Abbeville, Alabama, and a host of cherished nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on August 8, 2026, at First Baptist Church of Bay Minette, Alabama. Visitation will be from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the church with the service to follow at 11:00. Dress is church casual. Burial will be private.

Donations may be made in his memory to the Disaster Relief Fund or the Future at First Fund, c/o First Baptist Church, Bay Minette, PO Box 1628, Bay Minette, AL 36507.

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