SJSO Deputy Daniel Roy Sorrells

Daniel “Dan” Roy Sorrells, 58, of Jacksonville, Florida passed away in the late evening of Saturday, June 7th, surrounded by his loving family. He is preceded in death by his grandparents and many cherished, loyal dogs.

Dan, as he was affectionally known, was witty, fun-spirited and a wealth of knowledge. He was seriously unserious, loyal to his core and loved his friends and family fiercely. As a dedicated Sheriff’s Deputy, Husband, Father and GranDan, he embodied leadership, bravery, and love.

Dan is survived and deeply missed by his wife, Mia; daughter Ashley, his son-in-law Tyler and granddaughter Sophie; brother Jason, sister-in-law Melissa and parents Jody and Linda, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Born in Jacksonville, Dan graduated in 1985 from Terry Parker High School where his brother and daughter also later graduated. He then swiftly committed to the United States Army that same year.

A proud paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Dan served 4 years of active service as a 13 Fox, Fire Support Specialist on a Field Artillery Team, later attaining the rank of Sergeant. He also went on to fill a military intelligence position with the Army Special Forces.

For his next adventure, Dan found his home at the St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office, where he faithfully served for over 25 years, first as a corrections officer, then on patrol and as a Corporal. Over his career he earned many awards and recognitions, including the Life Saving Award, Combat Medal, Exceptional Service Award, Meritorious Service Award, and numerous letters of commendation from staff and citizens.

Dan’s loyalty and dedication extended well beyond his career, as he enjoyed time with his family the most. He cherished his wife Mia, daughter Ashley and most of all, his best friend and granddaughter Sophie. Most weekends off from work were well-spent with Sophie, building extensive Lego sets, hunting for hidden treasure at local estate sales, playing video games or working in the yard together (and somehow ending up in the pool).

Arguably one of his best attributes, aside from his unwavering loyalty and dedication, was his ability to bring a story to life. Consider yourself lucky if you’ve ever been in the audience of one of his vivid, (often exaggerated) and exciting stories, even if you’ve heard it several times! His own laugh as he intertwined details with facts and emotions was what took the experience from great to exceptional.

He was a life-long learner and enjoyed sharing his extensive knowledge of many topics and interests with his friends. Odds are you may have experienced one of his long-winded lectures or lessons about the topic of his choosing, and it was best you listened, there’d be a quiz at the end!

It would be amiss not to mention Dan’s love of dogs. There were many that he loved and who truly captured his heart, but Amber was his soul dog. Rescued by him and his zone partner at the time, Dan fell for Amber instantly and adopted her into the family. He went on to love and spoil many other dogs: Amber, Kylie, Sadie and Juju.

A visitation for Dan will be held Monday, June 16th, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Hardage-Giddens St. Johns, 1285 St. Johns Parkway, St. Johns, FL 32259.

A funeral Mass will occur Tuesday, June 17th, 2025 at 12:00 PM at San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church, 1718 FL-13, St. Johns, FL 32259.

A committal service will occur Tuesday, June 17th, 2025 at 2:30 PM at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32218.

In place of flowers, we would like to encourage a donation in Dan’s honor to one of the following charities:

K9’s United: K9s United is committed to supporting and honoring law enforcement K9s who protect and serve our communities by providing them the most advanced equipment and training, and memorializing those who make the ultimate sacrifice

Donation Link: https://www.k9sunited.org/donate/

Saint Jude’s International Ministries:

Saint Jude's International Ministries is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, grass roots organization that seeks to serve those who are the poorest amongst us. The ministry was conceived (2009) as a means to share with others, in gratitude to God for the many blessings in our own lives. "We seek through prayer and monetary assistance, to make a difference in the lives of those who find themselves in desperate, impossible circumstances." There are no administrative fees associated with this ministry. 100% of donations are given to those in need.

Please make checks payable to: Saint Jude’s International Ministries, Or donate through Zelle to “[email protected]”