Life Reflections

"I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. At last, the champion's wreath that is awarded for righteousness is waiting for me." - 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Mrs. Phyllis M. Daniels, daughter of the late Wilhelmina Smalls McCants and Edward McCants, was born on May 19, 1936 in Pinopolis, South Carolina. She entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

In her early years of schooling, she attended Henry P. Archer in Charleston County until she returned to Berkeley County to live with her grandparents, the late Hattie and Moses Smalls. She attended Berkeley Training under the name of Bertha Lee Smalls since they did not always check birth certificates.

During her years at Berkeley Training, she was very popular and even served as the captain of the girls' basketball team. She also worked hard in the classroom focusing in the areas of Cosmetology and Home Economics. She enjoyed hanging with her three best friends: Celestine Hamilton, Maggie Grant Lawyer and Emily England Clyburn.

Upon graduating, she moved to New York to live with her older sister Hattie and worked in the garment industry while attending Trade School for Cosmetology. While in New York, she met and fell in love with the late Sgt. Zonie Daniels, Jr. (US Army). This union produced two boys, Anthony ("Tony") and Theodric ("Derrick"). Sgt. Daniels also had children from a previous marriage, Valerie and Zonie III. On March 23, 1966, while returning home on leave, Sgt. Daniels fell ill and passed away in a Philadelphia, PA hospital.

Living in Manhattan, Phyllis worked as a beautician at Rose and Etta under the guidance and mentorship of the late Rose Grant and the late Henrietta Bachman. These two provided motherly advice, business knowledge, as well as lifelong friendship. As for the mentorship of her two sons, she relied on her older brother, Arthur McCants and close first cousin, George Smalls. She chose not to remarry, but spent time in her later years with a special friend, James England.

In 1970, she purchased a two-family home in the Bronx and moved not only her family, but also her sister, Hattie and two sons, Jeffrey and Keith. She enjoyed attending Broadway plays and travelling throughout different countries. She also became an avid bowler with many trophies to show.

During her time in New York, she opened her home to many family members migrating from the south looking to make New York their home. Starting with her first paycheck, she always sent money back home to help support those who supported her growing up. In 1979, she began building her house in Moncks Corner and in 1980, moved back home where she immediately rejoined her childhood church, Wesley United Methodist Church in Pinopolis and served on several committees. Phyllis was the pillar of her family and a force to be reckoned with. She owned and operated her own beauty salon and decided to obtain her CDL after observing her grandchildren's bus driving recklessly through Perry Hill. By the next school term, she was driving her grandchildren's bus route. She also attended many County Council meetings, where she pled with board members to develop  jobs for high school students during the summer months.

Phyllis was preceded in death by: one son, Anthony "Tony" Daniels; three brothers, Arthur McCants, Leroy McCants and Charles Smalls; and two sisters, Hattie (Robert) Glenn and Mary Kelly Stephens.

She is survived by: sons, Zonie (Gloria) Daniels III and Theodric "Derrick" (Sharon) Daniels; daughter, Valerie (Jerome) Young; sisters, Gloria (Waldron) Cephas and Linda McCants; brother, John Henry Smalls; daughter-in-law, Roben Daniels; sisters and brother-in-law, Voncille McCants, Helen Smalls and Adolph Stephens; nine grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

Special thanks to her grandson, Anthony, who gave up bachelor life to move in and help with around the clock care; her sister, Gloria, who made lunchtime her favorite time of the day; and daughter-in-law, Roben, who had the more difficult task of getting her up, fed, medicated and ready for the day.

The Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 12:00 p.m., at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1008 Sugar Hill Road, Pinopolis, SC. Burial will take place in Old Nazareth Cemetery, Wampee Road, Pinopolis, SC. Viewing will be on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the funeral home. Face masks are required.