Matthew McDaniel was born January 8, 1939 in Fort Gibson, MS to the union of Robert Sr. and Azzie Lee McDaniel.  Matthew McDaniel (affectionately known as “Sonny Boy”) was the seventh of eleven children.  He was educated in Mississippi.  Upon leaving Mississippi, he relocated to Chicago in the 1950s.

Sonny Boy accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and rededicated his life to Christ in recent months.

Sonny Boy worked as a Machine Operator at International Harvester and retired after 30 years.  He worked as a professional mechanic until his health began to fail him. 

Sonny Boy was a kind, gentle and hard-working man who was generous with his time and money.  He was always willing to repair someone’s car, even if they couldn’t pay for his service.

Sonny Boy was preceded in death by his father, Robert McDaniel Sr., his mother, Azzie Lee McDaniel, two brothers, Isaac (Gloria) McDaniel, and William (Celeste) and Robert Jr. McDaniel.  Sonny Boy had eight children, three whom preceded him in death; Doris Ann and Mathew Daniel and Matthew Davenport.

Sonny Boy departed his life on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 2:30p.m.  He leaves behind to cherish his loving memory: his wife, Johnnie Mae Lynn-McDaniel, six children; Chester(Lori), Roy, Yvette (York), Shun (wife name), Antonia; Two legally adopted daughters: Jazzma Lynn and Kayla Lynn; 6 Step Children; Vernon (Wanda), John, Bruce ( Linda), Evangeline , Donna (Robert), Gregory(Tameka); his sisters and brothers, Lula, Lillie, Bertha, Bernice, Annie, Betty and Caesar McDaniel; and one uncle and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.