Grace D (Daniels) Hansley

Grace Daniels Hansley, was the oldest of nine children born to the late Alfred Sr. and Helen Daniels, on February 19, 1928, in Dover, Delaware.

Grace loved Delaware and spent all her life here.  She was educated in the public school system, attending class in a one-room schoolhouse. After completing school, she went on to secure employment at Leeds Travel Sewing Factor in Clayton, Bob Evans Restaurant as an on-call server, and Playtex, where she retired after 21 years of employment while working as a machine operator and Quality Control and Inspector.  In retirement, she and her husband owned and operated Magna Pest Control Company where she worked as the secretary.  

Saying, “I like people and I like to help whenever and where I can be of service to someone,” was Grace’s motivation for later re-enrolling in school and studying to become a Certified Nurses Aide.  She later went on to work at Heritage Assisted Living as a server and at Homestead Senior Care as a caregiver.

Grace was skillful and creative. She took great joy in gifting others with the beautiful things she knitted and crocheted.  Even as a child, she could often be found making clothes for herself and her siblings. Over the years all her siblings, clergy staff, choir members, and special friends have received either bed blankets, baby blankets, or afghans each stitched with that individual in mind - lots of love and attention were paid to that particular item being made.

Grace Loved sports.  She was a die-hard Washington Redskins and Phillies Fan.  She loved basketball but did not have a special team. She learned to love sports from her father.  When she was growing up, she would sit with her ear pinned to the radio as the announcer would give play-by-play of the action and daddy would explain anything that wasn’t clear.

Grace enjoyed working on crossword puzzles.  Chances are when you went to her house you would see a crossword book, whether Seek and Find, Fill-In, or newspaper turned into a crossword section. She loved keeping her mind active and she loved her coffee. While watching the games or TV you would find that she had a fourth of a cup of coffee next to her because she would be so involved in TV or crocheting that it would get cold before she finished, it may have helped her cut down on her coffee and increased in her ability to crochet.

If you wanted to see Grace smile, all you had to do was ask her about her husband of 21 years, Stanford, who was the love of her life.  Grace’s smile and laughter were infectious and reflected the light of God’s love. She was raised in the faith and attended Red Hall Church of the Living God before joining and becoming an active member at Mt Zion AME Church for more than 60 years.  She was appointed as a Steward of the Church and served on the Nancy C. Perry Women’s Missionary Society, The Bessie Pendleton Helping Hands Club, the Unity Choir, the Sanctuary Choir, and The Lay Organization.

She also sang in an all-female traveling gospel group, known as the Quintets, and held fast to her favorite Psalm—I will lift my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.  My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121).

Grace leaves to honor her memory, her sisters, Carrine Simms of Pemberton, NJ, Barbara Ann of Dover, and a brother Isaac Daniels (Sister-in-law Ivy) of Pleasantville, NJ.

Grace will be joining her parents, Alfred Sr. and Helen Daniels, sisters, Lydia Daniels, Blanche Brown, Margaret Demby, and Frances Delores (Lorsie) Daniels, and brother Alfred Jr..

Memorial Service Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 11:30 am at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, 101 N. Queen Street, Dover.  Friends may gather beginning at 11 am.  Interment of ashes to follow at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro, DE.

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