Funeral Services for Mr. John Thomas McDaniel will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, February 17, 2023 in the Wade Funeral Home Chapel. Mr. McDaniel, age 85, passed away from this life on Friday, February 10, 2023 in Hattiesburg. Chris McDaniel will officiate and interment will follow in Oakahay Cemetery.

Wade Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John Tommy McDaniel was born in Covington County on February 1, 1938, to John Otis McDaniel and Lessie Lillie Hammond McDaniel. John was a graduate of Salem School in 1956. He attended Jones County Junior College. John served in the National Guard from 1955 to 1960. He was an avid farmer and worked his family land in the Gilmore Community his entire life. At 19 years of age, John started a lifelong career at Southern Pine Electric Power Association. He started cutting right of way and over the span of 60 years worked his way to District Manager. He was a member, deacon, and treasurer of Calhoun Baptist Church. He was a skilled craftsman who always enjoyed helping family and neighbors build projects and even their houses. John broke and trained horses and passed that passion of horsemanship on to his daughters and granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; 1 sister, Minnie Jo McDaniel; 1 infant brother; 1 step-son, Douglas Ellzey; and his wife of 50 years, Joy King McDaniel.

Survivors include 1 son; Clay McDaniel (Darlene) of Taylorsville; 3 daughters; Debbie McDaniel of Farmington, MO, Betty Jo Jones (Jeff) of Hot Coffee, and Annia Hargon (J.P.) of Hot Coffee; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; as well a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be Friday from 12:30pm until 2:00pm at Wade Funeral Home.