Funeral Information
Location:
St. John AME Church
Date: 05-21-2025
Time: 10:00 AM
Time: 10:00 AM
Visitation Information
Location:
St. John AME Church
Date: 05-21-2025
Time: 09:00 AM
Time: 09:00 AM
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Obituary
Mary Alice Mitchell Daniels departed this life on May 12, 2025, at 6:25 p.m. She was born July 11, 1935, in Jacksonville, Illinois, the daughter of Ethel Rebecca House Mitchell and Richard W. Mitchell, Sr. She was raised in Jacksonville, Illinois, before moving to Macomb, Ilinois, where she and Franklin D. Daniels were married on January 25, 1952. To this union, six sons were born. In 1963, Mrs. Daniels and her family moved to Springfield, Illinois. She worked as the first black cashier at the downtown K-Mart, while going to school and raising her six sons. She graduated from Lincoln Land Community College in 1976. Before retiring, she worked for the State of Illinois, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Public Aid.
Mary was always a very active member of her community. With six boys to raise, she started Cub Scout Pack 105 in Jacksonville, Illinois, before moving to Springfield, Illinois, and working with Boy Scout Troop 37. She became an honorary lifetime member of the Illinois Congress of PTA. She was a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Youth Choir Director, member of the Estelle Thompson Missionary Society, and on the Senior Usher Board for many years.
She was a Lifetime member of the Springfield Branch of the NAACP for more than 55 years. During this time, she served as: Third Vice President (1983-1988), Secretary (1989-1990), Second Vice-President (1991-2002), Executive Committee Member (1968-2003), Chairwoman of Churches, Chair of the NAACP’s Webster Plaque Committee (1991-2006), Chair of the Community Service Awards Committee (1991-2006), Co-Chairperson of the Lincoln-Douglass Banquet (2003 and 2004), and Delegate to the NAACP State, Region III and the National Conventions. She was a member of the Regular and Life Memberships committees, fundraising, hotel arrangements, Ad books, hospitality, and tickets committees. She also served on the Legal Redress Committee, assisting people who contacted the Springfield Branch with complaints (2003-2005). For all her works with the NAACP, Mary was recognized by St. Paul A.M.E church as a “NAACP Lifetime Community Worker.” She was also recognized by the NAACP as the “Rosa Parks Woman of the Year” in 1990, and given the NAACP Webster Award in 2004.
Mary was known to say she liked the song that says, “It’s been a good day, a mighty good day, I may not have done everything I wanted to do, but Lord it’s been a mighty good day.”
She was preceded in death by her son, Franklin D. Daniels, Jr.; parents, Ethel Rebecca House Mitchell and Richard W. Mitchell, Sr.; sister, Alfrieda Mitchell Florence; and brother, Richard W. Mitchell, Jr.
She leaves to cherish her memory, sons, Frederick M. Daniels (Rosa) of Cottage Grove, MN, Perry L. Daniels of Springfield, IL, Broderick S. Daniels, Sr., (Carolyn) of Jacksonville, IL, Logan T. Daniels (Kymberly) of Kansas City, MO, and Robin L. Daniels (Cynthia) of Springfield, IL; brother, Elmer H. Mitchell, Sr., (Zelda) of Jacksonville, IL; sisters, Anna Mae Williams of Jacksonville, IL, and Rochelle Mitchell of Springfield, IL; 13 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Funeral services will be held at St. Paul A.M.E. Church on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Visitation: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM. Service: 10:00 AM-11:00 AM. She will be laid to rest at the East Cemetery in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Mary was always a very active member of her community. With six boys to raise, she started Cub Scout Pack 105 in Jacksonville, Illinois, before moving to Springfield, Illinois, and working with Boy Scout Troop 37. She became an honorary lifetime member of the Illinois Congress of PTA. She was a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Youth Choir Director, member of the Estelle Thompson Missionary Society, and on the Senior Usher Board for many years.
She was a Lifetime member of the Springfield Branch of the NAACP for more than 55 years. During this time, she served as: Third Vice President (1983-1988), Secretary (1989-1990), Second Vice-President (1991-2002), Executive Committee Member (1968-2003), Chairwoman of Churches, Chair of the NAACP’s Webster Plaque Committee (1991-2006), Chair of the Community Service Awards Committee (1991-2006), Co-Chairperson of the Lincoln-Douglass Banquet (2003 and 2004), and Delegate to the NAACP State, Region III and the National Conventions. She was a member of the Regular and Life Memberships committees, fundraising, hotel arrangements, Ad books, hospitality, and tickets committees. She also served on the Legal Redress Committee, assisting people who contacted the Springfield Branch with complaints (2003-2005). For all her works with the NAACP, Mary was recognized by St. Paul A.M.E church as a “NAACP Lifetime Community Worker.” She was also recognized by the NAACP as the “Rosa Parks Woman of the Year” in 1990, and given the NAACP Webster Award in 2004.
Mary was known to say she liked the song that says, “It’s been a good day, a mighty good day, I may not have done everything I wanted to do, but Lord it’s been a mighty good day.”
She was preceded in death by her son, Franklin D. Daniels, Jr.; parents, Ethel Rebecca House Mitchell and Richard W. Mitchell, Sr.; sister, Alfrieda Mitchell Florence; and brother, Richard W. Mitchell, Jr.
She leaves to cherish her memory, sons, Frederick M. Daniels (Rosa) of Cottage Grove, MN, Perry L. Daniels of Springfield, IL, Broderick S. Daniels, Sr., (Carolyn) of Jacksonville, IL, Logan T. Daniels (Kymberly) of Kansas City, MO, and Robin L. Daniels (Cynthia) of Springfield, IL; brother, Elmer H. Mitchell, Sr., (Zelda) of Jacksonville, IL; sisters, Anna Mae Williams of Jacksonville, IL, and Rochelle Mitchell of Springfield, IL; 13 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Funeral services will be held at St. Paul A.M.E. Church on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Visitation: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM. Service: 10:00 AM-11:00 AM. She will be laid to rest at the East Cemetery in Jacksonville, Illinois.