Lawrence S. Daniel

Marlborough-Lawrence Sellers Daniel, a WWII Navy Veteran, departed this life on February 21, 2025. He was the third child born to Davis Daniel (d: 1962) and Ethel Clack Daniel (d: 1933), on August 4, 1928. Their union produced three sons, James Edward, Roosevelt (both deceased) and Lawrence. In 1935 Davis Daniel married Virginia Daniel (d: 2005) and this union enlarged the family by adding another brother, Bobby (deceased) and three sisters, Mary Ann (deceased), Eva M. Henderson and Joyce D. Bell (both reside in Arlington, VA). Lawrence Daniel met and married Mary V. Smith (d: 2012) prior to entering the Navy at age 17. Over the years, Mary gave birth to four girls, Betty Theresa Webb, Jean Rosalind Hamler, Ann Marie Corley (deceased) and Rose Mary Daniel (deceased). In his late-twenties Lawrence and Mary divorced. She in turn married the Reverend Rainey Slater in 1955 and they produced two sons, Rainey Slater, Jr. and Reginald Boyd Slater. Unfortunately, Rev. Slater passed in 1963 and Lawrence stepped up to help raise his daughters and the two young boys. In order to do this, he worked 3-4 part time jobs just to make ends’ meet. Although he was criticized for raising someone else’s children, he was proud that he was able to make a significant difference in their lives. All six children completed high school and several went on to college. When Lawrence was enlisted in the Navy he served on the U.S.S. Harry F. Bauer (DM26) for four years. He made several trips to European countries. Unfortunately, on one of his journeys he received 3rd degree burns aboard ship. For the remainder of his life he suffered from the effects of lingering scars, but because no record was found in the ship’s log this incident was rejected by the military. Lawrence was a God-fearing man who believed that even in his old age justice would prevail, and it did. Evidence was miraculously found forty-two years later. However, upon his death he was still waiting for compensation. Lawrence went on to become a deacon in a prominent church in Dorchester, MA, Morningstar Baptist Church. Due to the lack of transportation he was unable to attend worship services; still he continued to pray and play gospel music on his keyboard. Lawrence lived well into his nineties before his health began to fail. Even so, he lived on to enjoy a quiet and peaceful life. As proclaimed by his daughter Jean, “his last days, were his best days.” God has always been in the plan. In addition to his children, he is survived by three generations of grands, great-grands, and great-great grandchildren, as well as two sisters and a host of other family members and friends. May the angels line up to receive this warrior into his final resting place. A Memorial Service and Committal is scheduled for 3:00pm on April 15 at the Massachusetts Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in Lawrence’s name to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or online at donate.cancer.org.