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NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick/far left. Courtesy photo/near left.
New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer, shown in this file photo, led his city's delegation this afternoon at the funeral of South Daytona Mayor Blaine O'Neal, shown near left.
DAYTONA BEACH -- They came by the hundreds to pay their last respects this afternoon to South Daytona Mayor Blaine O'Neal at the Crossroads Baptist Church. Leading the delegation for New Smyrna Beach was 43-year-old Mayor Adam Barringer, who at 43, is the same age as his South Daytona colleague, who died Friday of a heart attack.
Barringer, elected in November, said the funeral was emotionally draining to so many in saying good-bye to a young man who had a strong foothold in local politics.
O'Neal had been mayor for five years and was a commissioner for five years before that. He was president of the Volusia League of Cities. He was also vice-chair of the Volusia Council of Governments and was elected to the Board of Directors of the Florida League of Mayors
"It was pretty sad," Barringer said earlier tonight. "He was the same age as me. I didn't know him that well, but it was very emotional. There was a lot of crying."
Barringer said, he, too, shed tears.
Among those who spoke at his 2 p.m. funeral were South Daytona City Manager Joe Yarbrough and Port Orange Mayor Allen Green. Between 600 and 800 attended the funeral, including political leaders from throughout the county and police and firefighters in full uniform.
Joining Barringer from New Smyrna Beach were Commissioners Jack Grasty and Jim Hathaway, City Manager Pam Brangaccio, Assistant City Manager Khalid Resheidat, City Clerk Johnny Bledsoe and Human Resources Director Carol Hargy.
O'Neal was working in his chiropractic office Friday morning when he collapsed and was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center, where he died at 8:30 a.m.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa, and children, Riley and Blaine.