George O'Neil

Urquhart

Reverend George O'Neil Urquhart, 83, a native of Sussex County, Virginia, departed this earthly life on Saturday, March 14, 2026, to accept his eternal reward in Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Reverend Urquhart was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Jeanetter Maxcean Luster Urquhart. Long before marriage, they were teenage sweethearts during high school and early college years.

Reverend Urquhart, who was the youngest of three sons, was born on November 27, 1942, in Sussex County, to the late Whitt Hart and Mabel Jackson Urquhart. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Graham Urquhart and Earl Urquhart.

Surviving are a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. By no means should we forget his love for animals, from Fluffy to Tinkerbell and several more.

Reverend Urquhart was a lifelong resident of Sussex County, Virginia. He accepted Jesus Christ as Savior at the age of nine years old, and was a lifelong member of the Wilborne Baptist Church, Sussex, Virginia. He received his education from Sussex County Public Schools. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Community Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1975 and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Virginia in 1980. He also attended Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD.

Reverend Urquhart was a licensed Gospel Preacher. He received a Master of Divinity Degree (2005) and a Doctorate of Ministry Degree (2011) from the School of Theology at Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia. He was the Pastor of the Plank Road Baptist Church, Waverly, Virginia. He loved God and expressed compassion in his role.

Reverend Urquhart's employment and professional history span a career that includes a wide variety of employment opportunities ranging from educational settings to corporate and public sector management. He was employed with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and has served the Commonwealth of Virginia in several senior level positions for more than 25 years. He was appointed in January 2000 by Governor James S. Gilmore as the Executive Director of the Commission on Local Government, a state agency, where he served until January 2002. He was recognized and appointed to head a $20-plus million new Commonwealth building project enterprise to equip and house public safety emergency operations.

As a recognized leader, Reverend Urquhart has held many gubernatorial appointments beginning in 1984 when he was appointed by Governor Charles S. Robb to represent the Commonwealth as the Virginia State Liaison. Officer to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Further, Reverend Urquhart received executive-level appointments by Governors L. Douglas Wilder, George Allen, and Jim Gilmore to serve in a number of wide-ranging public service capacities to improve state government business practices and operations.

Reverend Urquhart has received many, many awards and certificates of recognition, including the Commonwealth's Distinguished Service Award in 1992 for outstanding achievements in working with federal, state, and local government agencies and the public service corporations. Mr. Urquhart was selected in 1978 to receive the coveted Wallerstein Scholar Award sponsored by the Virginia Municipal League of cities and towns and the University of Virginia study state and local government affairs at the University where he subsequently received his degree in government affairs and legal studies.

Reverend Urquhart authored several publications: "Personal Liability and the Willingness of Public Officials to Serve", "Crisis and Emergency" (1980). Reverend Urquhart was a man of God who honored life and strived to remain faithful to his Lord and his community. His motto was: Carried By Grace on Wings of Faith"

Remains rest at Scott's Funeral Home, 115 E. Brookland Park Blvd., where viewing will be held Friday, March 20, 2026 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m. at Scott's Chapel, 116 E. Brookland Park Blvd. Interment Monday, March 23 at 1p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery.