Clara Daniel
Published 12:00 am Monday, May 17, 2010
Clara Bailey Daniel of Marion died May 7, 2010.
She was born on March 28, 1925, in Troup County, Ga., to the late Henry Irby Bailey and Martha Morgan Bailey, but moved to Macon, Ga., as an infant. She was an honor graduate of A.L. Miller High School and graduated cum laude from Mercer University in 1948 with a bachelor’s degree.
She worked as a chemist prior to her marriage to the late Rodger C. Daniel Jr. She came to Marion to work as a chemist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s fish cultural lab. She ended her career by teaching math and science at Francis Marion High School. She continued tutoring and mentoring until her health failed her earlier this year. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and was a member of various civic and social organizations and a part-time Sunday school teacher at the Marion United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her twin sister, Claire Bailey Reid.
Survivors include a daughter, Marthy “Marty” Daniel (Ralph Polley) of Houston, Texas; a son, Rodger Charles (Joyce Kunert) Daniel III of Alpharetta, Ga.; two grandchildren, Gerhard Rodger Daniel and Claire Alexandria Daniel, both of Alpharetta; one step-grandson, Jonathan (Georgia Williams) Polley of Houston; two great-grandsons, Hawkins Walter Polley and Foard James Polley; a nephew, Carl F. (Kay Wilkes) Reid od Reidsville, Ga.; three great-nephews; four great-great-nephews; and two great-great-nieces.
Memorial services were held at the Marion United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 11, at 11 a.m. Graveside services were at 4 p.m. at the family plot in the Clayton Baptist Cemetery. The Rev. James Layton Waters Jr. officiated the ceremony. Kirk Funeral Homes Marion Chapel directed the services.
Pallbearers were Robert W. Eiland, Jeff Fowler, Timothy Nichols, Don Boyle, Brad Sturgis, Jonathan Polley and Gerhard Daniel. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. George Williams, members of the Davis Class of the Marion United Methodist Church and members of the Delta Kappa Gamma teachers’ sorority.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or to the Marion United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 85, Marion, AL 36756.