James R. McDaniel Jr.

Published 11:54 am Wednesday, December 23, 2015

RICHMOND — James Raymond McDaniel Jr., 92, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 20, 2015, in Richmond, Virginia. Born in Garland, North Carolina, on May 5, 1923, he was the son of James Raymond and Janie Smith McDaniel. He was predeceased by his brothers, Reuben and Roger.

James R. McDaniel Jr.

Jim grew up in North Carolina, attended Wake Forest University and enlisted in the Army in WWII. On a visit to New York City, he met his wife, Elizabeth Randolph Johnson. They had 60 wonderful years together until Betty passed away in 2014.

Jim worked at IBM for 41 years where he held a variety of positions in sales and product management. Early in his career, upon closing a very large sale with a banking firm, the CEO Thomas J. Watson, announced the sale to all IBMers over a broadcast. In the late 60’s, he presented a proposal to the senior IBM management committee to develop a system to support a “cashless” card; it was deemed too risky at the time. This has now become known as the debit card.

Jim was very proud of his IBM career and the friendships he made over the years while on assignment in New York, Connecticut, California, North Carolina and Florida. Jim retired with IBM in Florida and became the chair of the United Way of Palm Beach County, Board chair of the Bethesda Hospital Foundation and the Delray Center for the Arts.

He was also on the vestry at St. Andrew’s Church in Delray Beach and in the choir at St. Luke’s Church in Courtland, Virginia. Jim was a member of Cypress Cove Country Club in Virginia, the Delray Dunes Club and the Ocean Club in Florida and the Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. Jim and Betty retired to their family home in Courtland, Virginia, and made many friends in the area. The 100-year-old house gave Jim plenty of projects that kept him busy. He also became very involved in genealogy and was a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, Society of Mayflower Descendants in Virginia, the Order of the First Families of North Carolina, Jamestowne Society, the St. Andrew’s Society, the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne, the Valley of Norwich and the Scottish Rite.

Family was very important to Jim, he treasured the time he spent with his three daughters, grandchildren, his siblings and many cousins. Jim is survived by his daughters, Wynn, and her husband, Andrew Slater, of Greenwich; Susan McDaniel of Courtland; and Lee, and her husband, Pierre LeLong, of Richmond. He is also survived by his two loving grandchildren, Victoria and William Slater. He is survived by his brothers, Rafael McDaniel and Robert McDaniel; and two sisters, Jane Shouse and Anna Burnham.

Jim will be missed by all who knew him; he was a sweet and gentle human being. The family wishes to thank the many caregivers who supported Jim in his final years, Cecilia Carsons, Florita Shaw, Amy Reid and the staff at The Crossings, Sunrise of Richmond and At Home Care and his longtime friend, Lois Wellington.

The funeral will take place on Sunday, Dec. 27, at 2 p.m., in St. Luke’s Church in Courtland, with a reception in the Fellowship Hall after the service. Jim was always proud of his years at Wake Forest, and the family recommends donations in his memory to the Golf Program at Wake Forest University, http://wakewill.wfu.edu/ or the Alzheimers Association of Virginia, http://alz.org/donate. www.wrightfuneralhome.org.