William "Bill" McDaniel

William Alexander “Bill” McDaniel, age 63, a lifelong Jackson, TN resident, passed on from this stage of life on December 9, 2014 at the Cades Center of Stage 4 cancer.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 12, 2014 at 11 a.m. in the South Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons. Burial will follow in Ebenezer Cemetery near his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Malone and Dorothy King McDaniel Jr.

Survivors include his beloved sisters and brother-in-laws: Dottie (Jerry) Duggin of Columbia, TN, Vicki (Rick) Jacobs of Lebanon, TN, and Sandi (Charlie) Richardson of Jackson. He also thought the world of his nieces and nephews, Courtney Richardson Hill, Drew Richardson, Celeste Richardson Rose, Jill Jacobs Cook, Emily Jacobs, Jennifer Duggin Thomas, Russell and Michael Duggin, and niece-in-law, Kim Duggin; and many great nieces and great-nephews. Too many to name are his mother and father’s sisters and all the cousins who made growing up fun.

Bill was a strong believer in the importance of family and the support of each other and helping those who can’t help themselves. He enjoyed a wonderful childhood growing up in the Malesus community and at Malesus Methodist Church, where he served as an officer in the Methodist Youth Fellowship group and was presented the Boy Scout medal “God & Country.” He also loved doing odd jobs at the church. He later came to believe it doesn’t matter what church or religion someone belongs to, but rather that it’s important to share what you believe and respect what others choose to believe.

Bill had a wonderful childhood sharing music and laughter with his family. He absolutely loved Laurel & Hardy comedies, and also sang in bands in high school and college. He enjoyed many happy years in Cub and Boy Scouts, especially Troop 18. He loved scouting, camping and the adults who volunteered their time and caring to help raise boys into responsible adults. He was brought up to work hard and do your best.

At Malesus Elementary and South Side High School (1969) graduate, his nicknames were Billy and Billy Mac. He found it endearing that his sister Sandi, echoing their grandmother Mama King, and several of his classmates he had known all their lives since first grade continued to call him by those nicknames throughout their lives.

He attended The University of Tennessee at Martin for four years and was graduated from UT Knoxville, where he enjoyed many backpacking and camping trips in The Great Smoky Mountains. After graduation, he worked for about 40 years at The Jackson Sun newspaper where he served as a reporter, in proofreading and advertising services, as a Customer Service Committee chairman and as a plate-room operator, proofreading ads and news pages before publication. He greatly admired his friend Roy Heatherly, an advertising director who became publisher in Monroe, LA, and later moved back home as publisher of The Jackson Sun.

A visitation with the family will be held on Friday, December 12, 2014, from 9 a.m. until the service time of 11 a.m. at the South Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons.

Before his passing onto a new life with his creator, Mr. McDaniel requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of the giver’s choice, especially those involving helpless children.