Clarence William Eugene McDaniel (“Deacon Mac”) 

Clarence William Eugene McDaniel, 91, of Hammond, IN, passed away on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, in Munster, IN.

Deacon Mac was born in Springfield, IL, to Leroy McDaniel and Esther Birks McDaniel on July 5, 1929.  He attended Springfield public schools and served in the U.S. Army after graduation. He was a veteran of the Korean War and was awarded the Army Occupation Medal (Japan), the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Medal before being honorably discharged. After his discharge, Deacon Mac settled in Hammond, IN, and worked for Inland Steel in East Chicago, IN, and the Simmons Mattress Company in Munster, IN. Before retiring, he worked a number of years for Gillespie Ford in Gary, IN, and spent his free time working security at the old Ridge Road flea market in Glen Park, IN. 

Deacon Mac married Erma Lee Page, and together they became licensed foster parents for the state of Indiana and through the years cared for upwards of 30 children. The impact he’s had on these children is evident in the number of them who are now grown, with children and grandchildren of their own, and still call him Paw-paw.  

It wasn’t only foster children that found respite in his home. Anyone who has called him Deacon Mac, Uncle Clarence, or Paw-paw has probably lived under his roof at some point. Whether fleeing a bad relationship, running from personal demons, or just down on their luck, people knew that Deacon Mac’s house was a safe haven. New faces around the breakfast table usually meant hurting souls had come seeking refuge during the night.

Deacon Mac was baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost under the pastorate of the late Suffragan Bishop Charles Henry Taliefero. He was a member of the Emmanuel Temple Apostolic Church of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW, inc.) for nearly 60 years where he served faithfully as Deacon and Asst. Sunday School Superintendent under the pastorates of Suffragan Bishop C. H. Taliefero and Bishop Wallace Johnson, respectively.

Deacon Mac was well read. He especially liked debating the finer details of the Bible, and he did so with anyone who stood still long enough. Once during Sunday school, he caught everyone off guard when he asked whether the blind man in Saint Mark, Chapter 8, had received sight or vision. After a spirited discussion, and with the church evenly divided, the superintendent asked, "Okay, Deacon Mac, which did he receive, sight or vision?" To which Deacon Mac smiled and said, “He received both.” Last week, Deacon Mac closed his eyes to this world, but he's gained both sight and vision in the next. To this and to his lasting legacy, we say, Amen!

Deacon Mac is preceded in death by his parents Leroy and Esther; wife Erma; daughter-in-law Teresa Hill McDaniel; grandsons James Omar Tucker and Ean McDaniel; granddaughter Nicole Stephan; brothers Leroy McDaniel, Jr., and Charles Rhodes; sisters Lily Mae Morris, Pauline Miles, L. Beatrice Newman. 

He is survived by daughters Juanita (Carl) Smith of Cape Coral, FL, and Nancy McDaniel of Atlanta; sons Gregory (Stephanie) McDaniel of St. Louis and Kayster McDaniel of Atlanta; sister Roberta Rhodes of Springfield, IL; grandsons Chauncey Tucker and Edward Alexander of NYC, Midshipman Jordan McDaniel of Annapolis, MD; granddaughters Felecia (Edward) Rodriguez of Cape Coral, FL, Shanay McDaniel, Chelsy Williams, and Ruby McDaniel of St. Louis, Felicia Curry of Phoenix, AZ, and Kay Mara McDaniel of Valporaiso, IN, and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Interment ceremony, with military honors, will be held at 1200 hours on Friday, February 12, 2021 at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery located at 20953 W. Hoff Road, Elwood, IL, 60421.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Sister Ollie and the late Elder Stephan Sherrod and Secret’s Loving Care for their service and support and to Bishop Wallace Johnson and the Emmanuel Temple Church family.

*****

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Dept. of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): www.vfw.org