Ida Washington O'Neal, 96, KCMO, was promoted to glory on October 16, 2016 peacefully at home surrounded by family. She was born June 16, 1920 in Gary, Indiana, the daughter of Asa and Lillie (Ellison) Cummings. She later moved to Arkansas where she met and married Booker T. Washington; they then relocated to Brooklyn, New York. In 1953, Booker and Ida moved to Kansas City, Missouri where they made their home. She later married James O'Neal on March 27, 1981, a union that lasted until his death on April 13, 2006. Ida was a woman known always to be in the service of others, in her personal life and career. She professed a life in Christ at an early age. She was a woman of virtue and a member of several churches: Palestine Baptist, Emmanuel Baptist, Haven of Rest Baptist and Spirit of Truth Missionary Baptist Church. She loved to sing, singing in every church choir she attended and served on mother board until her health failed. Throughout her life Ida worked in many fields: a beautician, chauffeur, cook, dry cleaning presser, nanny, and her favorite being nursing. She always fed and cared for the children of others, yet treating them as her own. She was a woman of many talents in which her home displayed just that. For those who knew Ida, they knew that although tough, she loved her family deeply. She was the matriarch of her family. It was a privilege to be a part of her life. Through her life others experienced the love of God, the reality of the home in heaven and the joy of salvation which Jesus Christ prepared for us. She was a woman of tremendous faith who shared God's love with anyone who would listen and everyone who entered her home. Ida was also known for random shouts of praise, and her stories about the pearly white gates and the streets paved with gold. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of twenty-five years, James O'Neal; brothers, Asa Cummings, Jr., Fred Cummings, Charles Cummings and Ural Hunter; sisters, Juanita Cullen, Frances Brown and Stella Womack; sons, Leon Wainscott and Edward Jewel Washington; and a daughter, Lillie A. White. She is survived by: her daughters, Diane D. George (Felix) of Missouri City, TX, Willa A. Sutton (Ray) and Frankie A. Cole of Kansas City, MO, Tanya Harrison (Robert) of Kansas City, KS and Shanetta Cooper (DeAnthony) of Kansas City, MO; brother, Melton Cummings (Loretta) of Kansas City, KS; sisters, Gary Jean Jones and Jacqueline Bates (Mack) of Milwaukee, WI; twenty-nine grandchildren, fifty great grandchildren; twenty-three great-great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be Saturday, October 22, 11:00 a.m. at Haven of Rest Missionary Baptist Church. Interment Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the church. Services conducted by Duane E. Harvey Funeral Directors. Condolences may be shared on our website.