Thomas C. McDaniels, Sr.

Thomas Carleton McDaniels, Sr. passed on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. He was born on January 27, 1931 to the late Rev. Sinclair McDaniel and Celesta McDonald in Plainfield, New Jersey. He matriculated from Plainfield High School to West Virginia State College where he earned a B.A. in Psychology and Biology in 1954. Before graduating, Thomas spent two years away from college in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged. Thomas furthered his education by earning an M.Ed. degree in Guidance and Counseling from George Washington University and an M.Ed. degree in Economics from Johns Hopkins University.

His career in education began in Washington, DC. as a teacher at Sousa Junior High School and later as a visiting teacher at Sharpe Health School. He later joined Prince Georges County Public Schools where he taught at Laurel Senior High School for two years and then became a Pupil Personnel Worker until he retired in 1992.

Thomas was always civic-minded and belonged to the South Manor Civic Association, serving as Vice Chairman. He became a member of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in 1972 and was a president of its January Calendar Club and longtime member of the Board of Trustees. Thomas was proud of his work with the church to protect the community against harmful development projects, including a mega gas station across the street from Plymouth. This is the same location where he spearheaded the effort to develop the North Capitol at Plymouth assisted living facility.

Thomas loved to travel and motored across the United States twice. He also visited Hawaii, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Austria, Belgium England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Bosnia, Croatia, and several Caribbean countries. His favorite travelling companion was his late wife of 67 years Florence Baltimore McDaniels.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Kathryn Wilcher and Vivian Tate and his beloved wife Florence. He leaves to mourn his sister Sandra Francis (James Francis), a daughter, Celeste Saleem (Omar Saleem), a son, Thomas McDaniels, Jr. (Ricky Mullen); three grandsons: Karlton, Sean, and Kalvin Saleem; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

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