David Norman Daniels was born in Decatur, Ga., on Oct. 28, 1927, to Curtis and Nora Tweedy Daniels. He graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950 and from Columbia Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 1953.

He was married to Erlene Marilyn Fanning in 1950 and was a loving father to Alan, Melanie, Beth, Stephanie and Quentin and a devoted grandfather to all their children and grandchildren.

Mr. Daniels was ordained to the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament by the Atlanta Presbytery on June 28, 1953. He served as stated supply and then pastor in Jonesboro, Ga., from 1952 to 1954. He was an associate pastor at Murray Hill Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, Fla., from 1954 to 1956. He then served as pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Monroe, Ga., from 1956 to 1962.

Rev. Daniels was called to the pulpit of First Presbyterian Church, Port Gibson, in January of 1963 and served as that congregation’s pastor until December 1996, the longest tenure of any pastor in the congregation’s 200-year history. He began his ministry with Yokena Presbyterian Church in 1965 and continued to serve as pastor until present, a span of 44 years.

He served as commissioner from the South Mississippi Presbytery to 108th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church US and as a commissioner from the Presbytery of Mississippi to the 196th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA).

Rev. Daniels served a joyful tenure as school chaplain and Bible teacher at Chamberlain-Hunt Academy and was a member of the Board of Trustees for many years.

His loving and devoted wife of 53 years, Erlene, in 2004, his beloved granddaughter, Lindsay Callender in 1992 and his brother, Charles in 2009, preceded David Daniels in death. He leaves a sister, Barbara Jane Daniels of East Point, Ga. He was a loving father to five children, Alan Daniels of Tunnel Hill, Ga., Melanie Sones of Port Gibson, Beth Maze of Little Rock, Ark., Stephanie Moss of Dalton, Ga., and Quentin Daniels of Jackson, Miss.

He took great pleasure and pride in his grandchildren, Caleb and Josh Daniels (sons of Alan), Dana Harpole, Mandy Like and Bradley House (daughters of Melanie), Liz Turner and Kate Maze (daughters of Beth), Jim, David and Jacob Moss (sons of Stephanie) and Callie and Rose Daniels (daughters of Quentin). He was regularly entertained by his four great-grandchildren, Shannon, Colton, Caden and Avery.

Memorials may be made to Living Waters for the World, 318 Seaboard Lane, Suite 205, Franklin, TN 37067, or to the two churches he loved so well: Yokena Presbyterian and First Presbyterian in Port Gibson.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 tonight at the First Presbyterian Church in Port Gibson. A memorial service will be Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at the Yokena Presbyterian Church in Yokena.

Glenwood Funeral Home in Port Gibson is in charge of arrangements.