Gregory Allan McDaniel went to be with His Lord and Savior on Friday, November 3, 2017.

Gregory was born September 7, 1969 in Akron, OH; he was many things to many people.  He was the baby boy of Cecil J. and Gloria J. (Looney) McDaniel; little brother of Cecil A. (Valerie) and Kevin D. (Claudia) McDaniel; father of Aaron and Anthony Mitchell (mother: Shununa Mitchell) and Dominique and Angel McDaniel (mother: April McDaniel); grandpa to Anthony, Da’Marion, De’Shaun, A’Nyla, and Brielle; nephew of Tommy (Lucille) McDaniel, Bernard Jackson, Diane (Lee) Winfrey, Katherine Beacham, and Marilyn (Levester) Dukes; great nephew of Pastor Michael (Sylvia) Harrison and Lula Pittman;uncle to Shawnda (Sam) Harper, Bryttanie, and Shawn; cousin of many; friend to everyone, and true love of DaNita Smith, the love of his life.

Gregory attended Akron Public Schools and graduated from Buchtel High School in 1988.  He played several sports and was a state-ranked athlete.  After graduating he served in the U.S. Army.  Gregory was an active member of the Israelite Baptist Church, where he served on the Audio/Visual Ministry and helped around the church whenever he was asked.  Gregory was a hard worker and functioned in various jobs such as restaurant kitchen helper, food supply delivery driver, general laborer, assembly line worker, landscape helper, tow motor/fork lift operator, factory production worker, and heavy machinery operator (which he worked for 20 years).

Gregory loved sports, playing golf and chess, bowling, hunting, and fishing.  He also regularly watched TV (cooking shows were his favorite) and videos (of cooking and fishing, etc.).  He considered himself an awesome chef and loved to boast of his BBQing skills.  Gregory loved animals and was “Dad” to many fur and feather babies.  Gregory loved life and lived it well visiting many places and doing many things.

Gregory adored spending quality time with DaNita, whether it was walks in the park, hiking trails, going to the movies or dinner, dropping by dance class, visiting the Java Shoppe to play spades, or just going to the store.  He recently began attending nursing home worship services with her.  Gregory also loved his children, grandbabies, brothers, and family; he enjoyed laughing, singing, joking around, and cracking jokes with them.  Gregory also loved his God.  He was a servant who would often visit folks and help people whenever he could.

Gregory had lots of swag, a bunch of talent, a huge personality, and an even bigger heart.  He touched countless people in limitless ways; Gregory will be greatly missed but never forgotten.