James "Jim" Robert Daniel

James Robert Daniel of Bald Knob, Arkansas passed away peacefully on 17 December 2022, surrounded by three generations of his family. It was his 83d birthday. Jim, or “Bana”/“Ba” to his grandchildren, was born in Franklin, North Carolina on 17 December 1939 to Zach Coffee Daniel and Gladys Ensley Daniel. Always an innovator, he lived a life of adventure, service and certainly variety – attending Clemson University on a football scholarship, serving as a Chaplain in the Army Reserves, establishing an ecumenical church and urban housing ministry, and ultimately retiring as an Airborne Ranger and Brigadier General in the Kentucky National Guard. A lifelong learner, Jim earned a BA in English from Clemson University in 1965, two masters from Southern Baptist Seminary in 1968 and 1972, and a doctorate from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary in 1980. Most recently, he was studying to become an Oblate of St. Benedict’s monastery. Concurrent with his 32-year military career, Jim started and devoted decades of his life to Jubilee Housing, 501(c)(3) which provided high-quality housing, ministry, and other services to the underserved in Louisville, Kentucky. After retiring from the Army, he established successful educational and executive coaching consultancies. The call to serve was a constant in his life and in 2014 he established Darby’s Warrior Support, 501(c)(3), which provides the military’s Special Operations community with outdoor adventures designed to honor, encourage, and heal the men and women who have fought our nation’s longest war. This endeavor complemented his passion for capturing nature’s beauty on film and immersing himself in the outdoors. His work has been published in Arkansas Wildlife magazine and publications for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Jim was married to Julia Ann (Sheppard) Daniel for 60 years. Other survivors include his brother and sister-in-law John Warwick and Virginia (Peake) Daniel; daughter and son-in-law Kristie Daniel-DiGregorio and Gino DiGregorio; son and daughter-in-law Colonel (Retired) Shawn Daniel and Dena (Wortsmith) Daniel; and grandchildren Liam and Julia DiGregorio and Katie Grace and Jake Daniel. Arrangements for a memorial service are pending. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Darby’s Warrior Support, PO Box 1463, Searcy, Arkansas 72145. Arrangements are entrusted to Powell Funeral Home of Woodruff County. www.powellfuneralhome.net

James "Jim" Robert Daniel

December 17, 1939 - December 17, 2022