Mary Ellen Daniels, at the age of 94, transitioned peacefully from her earthly home to her eternal home on Sunday, April 26, 2020.

The youngest daughter of twelve children, Mary was born to Lewis and Bertha Weedon of Frederick, MD on October 29, 1925. Her parents and eight brothers - Clyde, O'Donnell (Tancy), Louis, Ernest (Pete), Russell, Charles (Dickey), Wilbert and Nelson – and three sisters – Virginia Haskins, Margaret Ambush and Louise Lee – preceded her in death.

Mary was a devoted wife to her husband, Ulysses Daniels, for 18 years before his untimely death in 1965. Their union was blessed with five children – Sherman (deceased), Claudette, Thomas, Nelson and Sherdette.  Together, Ulysses and Mary, purchased their family home on St. Barnabas Road in Oxon Hill, MD. After the death of her beloved husband, Mary focused all of her love and attention to raising her five children.

She worked hard to provide for her family by holding positions at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and The Architect of the Capitol where she retired as a food services worker in 1986.

It was in the DC public school system where Mary gained her intellectual curiosity and mental fortitude. Mary was a daily reader of the Washington Post and a nightly listener of WTOP News Radio. She loved to exercise her mental muscles by completing word searches and accurately recalling stories better than those who were much younger. She maintained this mental sharpness until her very last day here on Earth.

Mary was a faithful member and servant of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Oxon Hill, MD. During her time at St. Paul she served as usher, communion steward, and in her later years was the former President and member of the Golden Age Ministry.

To know Mary was to love her. She was a natural connector and social butterfly. Whether getting together with family or with the many social groups to which she belonged, Mary was considered the life of the party. Most recently, she was a Harmony Haller.  On a weekly basis, she would drive herself to Harmony Hall in Fort Washington, MD to meet up with her friends to go on social outings, play cards and fellowship over food. Her commitment to living life to the fullest is what her family and friends love and will remember most.

Mary's legacy will live on through her 4 living children – Claudette, Thomas (Beverly), Nelson (Joycelyn) and Sherdette; grandchildren – Joyce, Thomas Jr., Tennille and Marcus; bonus granddaughter – Brittney Ball; and her great grandchildren – Lauren and Sarah.  She will also forever live in the hearts of her nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and close friends.

There will always be something about Mary Ellen Daniels – may her fierce, feisty, fabulous and fun loving spirit serve as an inspiration to each of us for how we live our lives and leave our legacy.