Our beloved father, grandfather and hero went home to be with our creator on Friday, March 12, 2010. Jessie, at 90, is the youngest of eleven children born to Neil and Lizzie Daily. He was born on July 22, 1919 in Tupelo, Mississippi and has been a resident of Saginaw since 1940.
Jessie served in the Pacific Theatre for the U. S. Army between 1942 and 1946 and was awarded three Battle Stars. Jessie worked for the Chevrolet Grey Iron Foundry and Central Foundry Division of General Motors Corporation from 1946 to 1972. He also worked as a supervisor at First Ward Community Center and retired after 37 years of service on March 30, 1984. Jessie was a member of UAW Local 668. He was a supportive and loving father, grandfather and friend that will truly be missed.
Mr. Daily was a community and civil rights activist. He received numerous awards and honors for his relentless dedication in servicing the community through teaching and mentoring youths. The two highest honors of recognition were the King Abati Award (which means deeply respected and loved by many) in 1991 and receiving the Key to the City of Sagianw. Other service awards and letters of appreciation received by Mr. Daily include: Black Honors Convocation, Kwamel Nkrumah, National Association of Negro Business & Professional Womens Club, Potter School Certificates of Appreciation, Kuumba, Umoja, Saginaw County Community Actions Certificate of Merit, Saginaw Commission on Aging Nutrition Program Certificate of Appreciation, Youth Employment Service Certificate of Appreciation, McDonalds Certificate for Volunteerism Saginaw County Commission on Aging, Log Mark Award City of Saginaw, Resolution from the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners and Resolution from the State of Michigan Legislature.
Jessie served on many committees; the C.A.C Board of Directors, Saginaw Cultural Festival, Model Cities Policy Board, Stop Flow of Drugs, H.E.L.P, Saginaw Community Action Board, Commission on Aging Advisory, Black Arts Festival, Drug Abuse Advisory Board, Operation Equality, Saginaw High Booster Club, United Power, Representative Troop 2312 Boy Scouts of America, Commander of American Legion Post 312 and National Civic Rights Board of Directors.
His memory will be cherished by his children, Michele Barkley and Maurice (Betty) Daily of Saginaw; eight grandchildren, LaTongela Daily, Unceld Daily, Tori Barkley, Latricia Terrell, Melvin P. (Juanae) Barkley, China Daily, and Joseph Redeemer all of Saginaw, Bryan (Yolanda) Blackmon of Louisiana; three great grandchildren, Antorria Strother, Michelle Blackmon, and Janae (Johnnie) Aguira all of Louisiana; two great, great-grandchildren, Amya Aguira and Antorrio Barkley; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and friends too numerous to mention. Special nieces, Cheryl Cook, Rashaanda Cook, Charlotte Rehman, Nadine Harvey, and Michelle Daily; special nephews Charles Daily, Johnie Daily III, Ronald Smith, and Eddie Smith all of Chicago, Mark Miller, Lorenzo Miller both of St. Louis; special friends, Art Smith, Dr. Wilson Smith, Charles McNair and Carl Smith; and a very special friend Ursula Daily-Edwards.
Jessie was predeceased by his parents, four brothers, Johnie Daily, William Daily, Charles Daily, and Samuel Daily; six sisters, Ruby Navarro, Millie Taylor, Bonnie Daily, Mary Stewart, Mattie Robinson, and Lettie Payne; special friend Al Loveless and son-in-law Melvin Barkley.
Special thank you to Joice Swiney, Skip, John Falls, and Marcia (Ben Williams).
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