Herman L. Daniel | 2024 | Obituary

Herman L. Daniel

February 22, 2024

Herman L. Daniel looked beyond the veil and answered his heavenly father’s call to come home on the morning of February 22, 2024. He was born April 19, 1933, to the late Robert and Amarintha Daniel in Newport News, Virginia.

As a child, he was a member of St. Paul A.M.E.  Church and he attended the public schools of Newport News and Hampton, Virginia. As a child his love for God, his family, and his church was a pivotal part of his life. He loved all his siblings deeply and was especially close to his only brother Reuben (Shot).

After graduating from high school, he attended North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he met the love of his life, Elnora D. Belle. Herman graduated while Elnora remained in school and he served his country by enlisting in the US Army. They were married after Elnora’s graduation and remained together for 63 beautiful years.

Herman and Elnora lived in New York initially and settled in Hampton, Virginia to raise a family after the birth of their son, Michael. Herman and Elnora were both members of First Baptist Church.

Herman worked in the Hampton City schools as a teacher and coach from 1968 until his retirement in 1998.  After retirement he moved to Chicago with his wife, Elnora when she accepted the position as president of Chicago State University.

After Elnora’s retirement, the couple settled in Suffolk, Virginia. Herman immediately joined Gethsemane Baptist Church upon his return in 2010, where he remained a faithful, member until his passing.

Coach Daniel, as he was referred to, was a cherished member of the Hampton Roads community. He believed in the transformative power of education and assisted numerous young men in obtaining their college degrees by his personal monetary donations.  He mentored numerous young men, assuring that they never forgot Jesus as the source of their success.

 Herman possessed a loving, kind, and compassionate spirit. He loved helping others and wanted to lift them up. His actions demonstrated that he knew his purpose was to love and to serve.

Herman was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., The Guardsmen, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP),  North Carolina A&T University  Alumni Association, and The Aberdeen Gardens Historic and Civic Association.

 He was a faithful member of Gethsemane Baptist Church and served on several ministries. Herman will be remembered for his altruistic personality, compassion, and devotion to his family and to God. He was loving and kind to everyone; never met a stranger.

He was predeceased by his parents, his sisters, Rebecca Perry, and Evelyn Chandler. His beloved wife, Elnora Belle Daniel, joined him in eternal rest on March 4, 2024.

Herman Daniel leaves to mourn: one devoted son, Michael D. Daniel (Kristen) of Ellicott City, MD.; one surrogate daughter, Karen McAdoo, Hampton, VA, two loving sisters, Martha Johnson of Newport News, VA, and Ruby Price (Robert) of Atlanta, GA; one loving brother, Reuben Daniel (Cynthia) of Hampton, VA; grandchildren, Emerson Paige Daniel, Michael Charles Daniel, Ellicott City, MD, Adrian Hawkins, Richmond, VA, Tiffany Kitrell, Germantown, MD; great-grandchildren, Taylor Kitrell, Kennedy Kitrell, Dylan Kitrell, Germantown, MD and numerous nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

These and many others whose lives he has shaped with his touch will join in the celebration of his life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made, in loving memory of our beloved family patriarch, to the Gethsemane Baptist Church Educational Scholarship. To contribute, please visit GethsemaneBaptist.org/give or mail a check to 5405 Roanoke Avenue, Newport News, VA 23605. Your support honors Coach's legacy of empowering students through education. Thank you for your generosity.

Viewing will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024 at Gethsemane Baptist Church, 5404 Roanoke Avenue, Newport News, followed by a Memorial Service with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated at 6 pm and viewing will resume until 7:30 p.m.  

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, March 9, at Gethsemane Baptist Church with Bishop Dwight Riddick, Sr., officiating.  Interment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.  O. H. Smith & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.