Chester Daniels, who many people lovingly refer to as the Patriarch of East Marion High School, died on Tuesday evening from COVID-19, according to Marion County Coroner Jessie Graham. Daniels was a steadfast fan and volunteer at East Marion for more than 40 years.
Cindy Newsome, principal at East Marion High School, said he was always there and willing to do whatever needed to be done. He was very active in the booster clubs at the school, she said.
“He was such an uplifting person, and he was kind to everyone. He will truly be missed,” Newsome said in a phone interview Thursday.
Speaking with past and present coaches about Daniels, one of the many things they all agreed on: He was truly a great man.
Longtime football coach and friend, Les Peters, had nothing but wonderful things to say about Daniels.
“Chester Daniels was everything you ever wanted in a human being. I cannot say enough about him,” Peters said.
Daniels was a graduate of the old Marion Central High School, where East Marion is now. He drove a school bus and worked at the former training school until it closed. Peters said he believed Daniels was the booster president for at least 40 years.
Peters considered Daniels his right hand man during his tenure at East Marion. He would always go to Peters and ask him what was needed, what needed to be improved on.
Peters said Daniels was a member of one church, and his wife was a member of another church. Daniels would always go to the 8 a.m. service with his wife at her church and then attend his church service afterwards. He would help anyone, Peters said.
“Chester was just a community man. Our hearts ache,” Peters said.
Peters said Daniels’ children know how great their father was to this community. Peters said the children are going to have to pick up their steps to follow their father.
Peters shared when East Marion won the state football championship in 2007, Daniels sat on the sidelines with the team and on the way off the field Daniels spoke to Peters. Peters said Daniels told him he appreciated everything Peters had done and what Peters meant for his boys. Peters said he paused and did not realize how much Daniels had watched him through the years. Daniels continued speaking to him saying Peters helped him raised his boys and made young men out of them. Peters said Daniels told him that he wanted to thank him before anyone else got to Peters.
“I’ll carry it to my grave with me. With tears in his eyes, he hugged me and said thank you for what you did for my boys,” Peters said.
East Marion High School Athletic Director Calvin Brown, who also coaches boys and girls high school basketball spoke about Daniels.
“It’s an immeasurable loss. He meant so much too so many,” Brown said.
Brown said Daniels was one of the major inspirations to him personally. Through good years and bad of basketball, his support for the teams never waived. He stood behind Brown through the ups and downs.
“Because we were Eagles. That was all that mattered to him,” Brown said.
Brown said if there ever was a diehard fan of East Marion sports it was Daniels. Even when Daniels had no children and grandchildren involved, he was always there for the students. He was one of the most dedicated and most loyal supporter in his entire career, Brown said.
“I just love him to death. He really meant a lot to me,” Brown said.
Mandell Echols, head baseball and volleyball coach, said Daniels was one of the first people to welcome him when Echols began at East Marion 10 years ago. Echols was impressed by Daniels’ selfless dedication to the school. Echols said even when Daniels did not have any family playing he would still be there, on-time, if not early, getting things ready.
“He was always ‘Coach what do you need?’ He was always there for the kids,” Echols said.
Echols said it hurt him personally more than anything thinking about how selfless and dedicated Daniels was to everyone, and with the coronavirus going around, no one could be there for him. All the people he touched could not be there for him in his time of need, Echols said.
Echols said his favorite memory of Daniels was when Daniels cried. The volleyball team had won the district title and on senior night the girls bought him a Yeti mug with his name on it. The girls were practicing before the senior night program and called Daniels over to where they were practicing, and Echols gave him the gift. Daniels read it and asked what it was for, and Echols told him the girls wanted to thank him for his support.
“Tears came to his eyes. He really appreciated it,” Echols said.
The reaction of Daniels confirmed to Echols what he already knew: Daniels wasn’t in it for the accolades. He was there for the students and the school. Daniels just wanted to make sure everything was taken care of. That was Daniels’ goal.
Another thing everyone agrees on is Daniels’ cooking, especially his chili. Daniels would run the concession stands for all of the sports always being early to make his chili. He would also step up and help cook for community fundraisers such as fish plates or barbecue chicken. Peters said everyone wanted him to cook and there was nothing he could not cook.
Echols said once Daniels had surgery and he tried to encourage Daniels to take it easy and Daniels kept repeating to Echols that he was good.
“For the kids that he served, he was just a dream come true,” Peters said.
