11 years to the day we lost a “mainstay” of our McDaniel family/// As usual on this date we will place a remembrance flower on Ellen’s (partial) grave at the Farm. And we all have happy thoughts of her time with all of us … A very special wife, mother, aunt, sister, friend and doctor. She will forever be missed.

Happy belated birthday, Mom! You're always in our hearts, and we miss you dearly. Even during these challenging times, we find strength in your memory. Your signature "bell curve" hand gesture, which is a way of saying "get over it, move on" is still very much in use. I get that one almost daily from Kate (Ha). I hope you had a great birthday with Django and the family's furry friends who crossed the rainbow bridge. No one doubts they managed to find you. LULU, Mom.

Just got an email with the yearly report from the Baltimore Lab School. Every time I visit their site I am so impressed by the work being done to set students up for a meaningful and successful life! What a tribute to your hard work and love for young people! Another donation to the scholarship fund in your name is in my plans! Unfortunately, I'm no closer to creating a similar school here in Atlanta, but the model is certainly known locally. I continue to tutor students affected with dyslexia and adhd. What a wonderful thing it would be to have such a school for them to attend here in Atlanta, to help them discover how they can shine!! I struggle to keep an adequate tutoring load, let alone start a new school! I hope to work as an in-school tutor this coming year, so some avenues may open up. Thank you McDaniel family for maintaining this site. It keeps the dream and mission alive and fresh!

Ellen … Well it’s another year and the memory of Ellen doesn’t fade. Especially at this Holiday time of year.Your presence here at Hickory Ridge is a constant reminder of the love that you have for you're family and their continued all-inclusive devotion that they we all have for you … Love you and Like you, John

Mom, I miss you every day. You inspire me even when you’re gone. I continue to do my best to never give up to fight till the end and never let the hard days win. I continue to collect owls and have purchased one with a solar light for outdoors in my garden that will arrive today. Every time the light shines. I will think of you. I love you and like you.

AE,
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve thought of you, especially this past year. I’ve found myself saying AE/your mom/GranE would be so proud and just channel your inner AE so much lately. Your strength, humor, and spirit shines just as brightly as it ever has and I know you’d be so pleased with how much you’re a part of our daily lives. As always, we carry your love, wisdom, and just the right amount of irreverence with us. Miss you more than I can say. LULU

Me again … I am remiss not to add to the list of ones that Ellen would be so pleased, Leslie and Jim and Gingy.

Ellen would be 81 today. I can only speculate what her life would have been if she had lived another 10 years until now. I do know she would have been so proud of Lorrie and Mike (also Bill and Kate) and the grandchildren Satchel, Marley and Cooper, I am assisted in this assessment because as everyone knows, she left pretty clear instructions as to what she hoped for and what she expected from all of us the family.
So today we once again celebrate her wonderful life with flowers on her grave (and a toast) at the Farm (thanks to Beanie) cemetery to one of the most remarkable women Iever knew
Ellen, we all love you and like you … Mac

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I failed to mention your many beloved pets who I’m sure, you are with and loving today.

Once again at this time of year, we think of all your Love and Devotion to our Family and your extended one (patients, friends and colleagues).
On your birthdate (Dec 21st) and death (1/03) we toast you and acknowledge the wonderful contribution you made to all of us.
We will always remember and love you …
John

I must admit that scarcely a day goes by that I don't think of you and try to remember what you taught me. I also think with awe of your brave struggle with cancer and wonder how you did it. You are quite the example of courage and perseverance! 
Thank you, McDaniel family for setting up this site to help us all remember Dr. McDaniel and what she still reminds us of: strength, courage, kindness, love, and her refusal to give up! It is so needed especially during this pandemic!

Ellen ,,,
Eight years since your passing. I can truly say that beyond being a wonderful person, my positive remembrance of you grows stronger each year. Most of all is your wisdom and objectivity of people and things which is proven year after year.
You are loved and missed by all your family !
LU & LU,
John

Recently I was lead to donate to the Southern Center for Human Rights here in Atlanta. I donated in memory of you, Dr. McDaniel. You were so passionate about human rights, and, even though I was sometimes taken aback by your passion, it has stayed with me and fueled my own. There are terrible conditions in some of the prisons here in Georgia under covid, and I want to do what I can to correct them. Your example of passion and tireless perseverance are serving me well at this most difficult time in our country, and in my state. The Southern Center will publish this memorial with a picture and a short description of how their work relates to yours. This is such a great opportunity to have your legacy live on! I am so grateful to have it!

Dear McDaniel family,
I was in a hurry to leave this tribute, for fear this site would be taken down. I am so glad to see it has not. I knew Dr. Mc.Daniel quite a while ago - when her two children were very young - Michael must have only been a few years old. She was my therapist at a really tough time in my life. She helped me move on when I felt very stuck and lost. I have fallen on this site at this incredibly tough time again, when, of course, I thought of her, and was so grieved to see that she had died. There are some people one never thinks of ever dying, and I guess she was one of those people for me.
The pictures you have shared on this site have shown me a totally different side of her from what I knew as her patient. I have appreciated looking at them, all the while seeing the ones where she is so obviously so very ill, but still smiling bravely and lovingly at her family. 
Her final wish, that any funds that would have gone to flowers should instead go to the Baltimore Lab School has taken me down a new road I can only think of as a blessing. Being recently retired from classroom teaching and now embarked on a new career tutoring students with dyslexia, the kind of school that the Lab School is, just seems so perfect for the students I work with. I have been happy to contribute to the Baltimore school, but also now have been inspired to think about starting a similar school here in Atlanta, where I now live. 
So her legacy lives on. She truly was an amazing person. At this really difficult time of the covid pandemic, the idea of starting a new school here is giving me hope and the impetus to work toward another goal which could help the students I work with who are so bright, yet different enough that I cannot imagine how they get through a day at a traditional school. This Atlanta Lab School may not come to fruition soon, but I am happy to start down the road towards making it come to pass.
Thank you for your generous sharing of all the pictures and the legacy Dr. McDaniel leaves behind. This site is a wonderful place to know I may return to and express my feelings and thoughts. I appreciate this gift!

Good Morning Ellen ... another birthday # 78 to celebrate ! And as usual, your family and friends continue to miss you greatly !
I just visited one of your 3 resting places (Hickory Ridge Cemetery) and plan to do # 2 (Pet Cemetery) today where you and Jango & Kate are peacefully located for a
A Toast to a wonderful Wife, Mother and Mainstay of our family ... Love You, John

Hey MaMa
Missing you on your birthday. I continue to live in your honor and hope I am making you proud. Keeping your feisty spirit alive and have passed it on to your strong and beautiful Marley. Boys are doing great and miss you . Keep talking to us.

Ellen died about 4 years ago. She is greatly missed by me and all of her family! To celebrate her birthday, she will be once again remembered with a contribution to the Dr Ellen McDaniel Scholarship Fund at the Baltimore Lab School.

I honor my mother's birthday by contributing to the Baltimore Lab School (and accidentally the Washing Lab School). An organization my mother loved and supported. I also renewed my commitment to the bone marrow registry, "Be The Match". Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is Ellen's Birthday. It is a bittersweet time. While she is so very missed which is very sad, her memory does make me smile! She was the most remarkable women who I loved dearly !

Dr. McDaniel was my psychiatrist for many years. Years afterwards, when she and I were both diagnosed with cancer at the same time, I came to visit her at home. I appreciated her willingness to accept that act of comfort and friendship. May her memory be a blessing. With gratitude and respect, Rabbi Gila Ruskin

Mom E, Thank you for all of the wonderful memories! For being a mom to me starting in my H.S. years and beyond. You have always been so supportive and loving and kind. I will cherish your laughter as I always remember you laughing! Thank you for making me feel a part of your family! Love Always, Marianna