Anne McDaniel

Mary Anne McKee McDaniel, 81, passed away peacefully at her home in Jackson, MS on
Thursday, November 13, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. Visitation will be held on Thursday,
November 20, 2025 from 11:30 - 1:00 at Sebrell Funeral Home in Ridgeland, MS.
Anne was born December 16, 1943 in Kosciusko, MS to Earl and Mary McKee. Soon the young
family moved to Pascagoula, MS. While Earl built his career as a State Farm agent and Mary
taught school, Anne and her three siblings grew up catching blue crabs, eating Edd's
hamburgers and dancing to their Elvis records. One of Anne's favorite stories was of the
Sunday night she tiptoed out of the First Baptist Church, unbeknownst to her parents, and ran
home to watch her heart-throb perform "Hound Dog"on the Ed Sullivan show.
Anne met the love of her life, Joe, on a blind double date arranged by mutual friends. Anne
and Joe enjoyed each other's company that evening but as Anne was studying Fine Arts at
MUW and Joe was finishing his masters degree at MSU, the two did not reconnect until three
years later, when Joe attended a conference on the Mississippi coast. Joe called Anne's home
in Pascagoula and her brother, Don told Joe that Anne was not home but studying at Southern
just as Anne walked in the door and said, "Don, I'm home!"
Anne and Joe married in Pascagoula on August 19,1967 and began 58 years of a loving
partnership in Jackson, MS. They shared the rare kind of companionship in which they truly
enjoyed being together whether covered in paint from a renovation project, roadtripping to
see fall leaves or exploring Africa. They taught their children to find joy in both the big
adventures and the ordinary days.Anne earned her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education and later accepted the position
as Director of the Preschool at St. Andrew's Episcopal School. She was made for that role.
Anne's creativity and gift for connecting with children shaped countless young lives and helped
define the Preschool's culture.
Through St. Andrews, Anne met some of her dearest lifelong friends, Julia Chadwick, Norma
Bennett and Kerry Parker. The friends, along with their husbands, enjoyed monthly progressive
supper club, Horn Island camping adventures and endless games of Balderdash.
After over a decade at St. Andrew's, Anne followed her father's legacy and became a State
Farm Insurance Agent. When Anne opened her office on Old Canton Road in 1981, she
became the first female State Farm insurance agent in Mississippi. Anne took joy in
encouraging and championing other women agents, generously guiding and sharing her
knowledge. Anne recently retired after over 40 years as an agent.
Anne is survived by her husband, Joe Thomas McDaniel, her son Russell (Rusty) McDaniel
(Susan), her daughter Mary Katherine Wasson (Walt) and her grandchildren, Hayley McDaniel,
Drake McDaniel (Mio), Gracie Sloan (JP), Emily Cresap (Reed), Georgia Wasson (Brandon
Kilpatrick) and great-granddaughter, Mary Frances Cresap. Anne is also survived by her sisters
Judy McKee, Sandy McKee (John Crowell) her brother, Don McKee (Dena). Also close to her
heart, Anne leaves her beloved Goldendoodle, Biscuit Beauregard McDaniel.
Memorial contributions may be made in Anne's memory to Stewpot Community Service