Charles William Daniels, M.D.

Charles William Daniels was born in Brewton, Alabama on November 3, 1926, and moved to Mobile at the age of 3 weeks. He attended Leinkauf Elementary School, University Military School and graduated from Murphy High School in 1944. His first year at Georgia Institute of Technology was interrupted by a year of military service as an aviation maintenance officer candidate in the US Army Air Corps. He returned to Georgia Tech and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. This was followed by a Master of Science degree in Physics from Tulane University, where he operated an electron microscope as an assistant to Dr. Frank Low, one of the pioneers of electron microscopy.

His electron microscopy work caught the attention of Harvard Medical School, where he earned his M.D. in 1957, before pursuing his internal medicine residency and hematology fellowship at the University of Chicago. While in Chicago, he met his future bride, Sherry Clabaugh, RN (later Ph.D.). They married in Lakota, Iowa in August of 1960.

Although they planned to go to the mission field, Dr. Daniels wanted more surgical experience, so the couple returned to Mobile in 1962. He assumed the position of Medical Director at the Mobile General Hospital and was responsible for the recruitment of interns and residents, successfully increasing the program in number from ten to fifty during his five-year tenure. He was also credited with expanding the accredited teaching programs with the support of 135 voluntary private practicing physicians, a program that later transitioned into the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

Dr. Daniels completed an additional fellowship in Cardiology and preceptorship in Echocardiography at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and then returned to Mobile to open a solo medical practice in 1969. Many of his patients lacked means of payment, but that never deterred him from providing the best of care. Twenty-five years later, he combined his practice with Drs. E. Jackson Green and James Barrett and eventually joined with the Diagnostic and Medical Clinic at the Mobile Infirmary. He loved the practice of medicine, cared personally for all of his patients and greatly admired his colleagues. Dr. Daniels retired in 2005 at the age of 83. Although he envisioned spending his retirement years dedicated to reading and writing, he joined Sherry in many community activities, including mission trips abroad and driving for Meals on Wheels and also volunteered for Victory Health Partners, providing medical care to the uninsured.

Throughout his life, he remained passionate about helping others, providing infinite support and love for his family, and instilling a strong work ethic in his children. He was a tireless advocate for education and his faith, believing these would solve all of life’s challenges. He was a lifelong devoted member of Dauphin Way United Methodist Church, listening with rapt attention to every sermon, though often interrupted by short naps in the church pew.Dr. Daniels was preceded in death by his parents, Pliny Edfa Daniels and Minnye Sue Coker Daniels, and his brother, Pliny Edfa Daniels, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Sherry Clabaugh Daniels, and his children, who were his greatest pride, Susan Daniels Duhe’ (Bryan), Charles William Daniels, Jr. (Paula), Dr. Larkin Jeffrey Daniels (Kim), Kristin Daniels Dukes (Gil) and Eric Robin Daniels (Amy), ten grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Although the void they all feel caused by his absence is painful, they take great comfort at the tremendous outpouring of love, admiration, and respect they have received from everyone that knew him.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorials be sent to one of the institutions that meant the most to Dr. Daniels:Dauphin Way United Methodist Church (https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Form/ad77144b-0ac1-4b22-9ea2-486c6dd8897a )Infirmary Foundation (https://infirmary.care/DonatetoInfirmaryFoundation )University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine (https://giving.southalabama.edu/cwdaniels).