Joe David Mcdaniel

Joe David McDaniel, 71, went to his heavenly home Saturday, June 27 ^th , 2020 in Jonesboro AR. Born June 3 ^rd , 1949 in Russellville, Arkansas. He only had a little over 2 years to enjoy the beauty of that area especially Pottsville where he lived until his father moved him, his mother, and two brothers taking them on an adventure to Camp Joseph Taylor Robinson, just outside of North Little Rock, AR. Camp Robinson was a deactivated army post at the time transitioning into the headquarters for the Arkansas National Guard.  David would grow up there from late 1951 until 1967 when he moved to Jonesboro to further his education at Arkansas State University eventually obtaining a BA in Business. On the 13 ^th of November of 1968, David was initiated a member of Epsilon Omicron Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity.  He also served as the manager on the football team and while performing these duties, the team played in the Pecan Bowl for three consecutive seasons-from 1968 through 1970-and won the National Championship in 1970.

Working with the football team was just one of David’s passions. For from very early on, David found Jesus, his Savior and it changed him forever.  He had a servant’s heart and would display this the rest of his life. He cheerfully helped a classmate in a wheelchair get around all through Junior and High school at Sylvan Hills.  He was one of the moving forces to bring the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to the campus of Arkansas State.  After graduation David worked in many different fields around the world to support his need to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a manager at Burger King and a business manager at “Chief Electric, an electrical company,” before leaving for his final full-time job of working as the Business Manager of the International School of Kabul, Afghanistan. David left there in March of 2012 with plans to return in a different role but it was not meant to be. David had contracted the illness that would be his ultimate downfall. From this point forward he would get weaker.  David eventually migrated back to the Memphis – West Memphis area where some of his closest friends and the church that drew him in, “Victory Church of West Memphis.

Surviving Joe David are his brother Paul (Sharon) of The Villages, FL; his sister Robin (Sandra), of Conway, AR. Lots of nieces and nephews scattered all over the country. The one whom his family thought of as his other brother by another mother, Matt Black of St Louis, Mo by way of Turkey. In the Bible Moses had Aaron and Hur to hold his arms up during a time of crisis… and Joe David had Mark Quinton (June) of Marion AR and Dewey Smith of West Memphis, AR.

David was preceded in death by his father Robert (Bob) A. McDaniel and mother, Anna Ruth (Stark) McDaniel, his brother Robert Larry McDaniel, his nephew Bobby Lynn McDaniel.

David’s earthly remains have been cremated and as of now, a memorial is on hold as a result of the COVID-19 issue.  Neither his brother nor his sister is allowed to travel due to health concerns which restricts the honor they may show to their brother at this time.