Edna Jane Smiley McDaniel

Edna Jane Smiley McDaniel passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 22, in Portland, Oregon, surrounded by her son and daughter-in-law, with Love Me Tender gently playing in the background. Edna Jane was born October 2, 1940, at their family farm, The Ponderosa, in South Hill, Virginia, to James Flemming Smiley and Edna Claudia Wootton Smiley. She was the eldest of seven Smiley children and adored being their big sister. She helped run the family farm and businesses until she graduated from Park View High and moved with friends to Richmond, Virginia, to attend Smithdeal-Massey Business College. While living and working in Richmond, she met her beloved future husband, Fred McDaniel, and they were married July 23, 1966. Together, they lived in Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina and had two children, Courtney and Freddy. Edna Jane worked most notably at the Virginia Commonwealth Unemployment Office and eventually the Albemarle County Sheriffs Department, where she was affectionately known as “Big Ed.” Edna Jane was a devout Christian, a wonderful wife and mother, a loyal friend, and the absolute sweetest woman you would ever meet. Everyone she met up until the day she passed grew fond of her. She was always readyto offer a caring ear, thoughtful advice, and her trademark acerbic wit. She fiercely loved her family. She enjoyed reading, music, theater, Hallmark movies, traveling, shopping, politics, and the Portland Trail Blazers, as she was a huge sports fan. She traveled to several European countries, including a special trip to Italy with her husband, and also visited Japan. She had a memorable trip to Las Vegas with her daughter, where she attended concerts and saw shows. In recent years, she has lived with her son and his family in Oregon, where they took her to music venues, her favorite restaurants, and Trail Blazers games. Above all else, her family was the most important thing to her. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother (Nonnie), great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Glenn McDaniel, of Charlottesville, Virginia, and her brothers, Jimmy and Johnny Smiley, of South Hill, Virginia. She is survived by her children Courtney Wise (Sean) of Lyme, New Hampshire, and Fred McDaniel II (Mary) of Happy Valley, Oregon; her siblings Donald Smiley (Lillian) of South Hill, Virginia, Ronald Smiley (Patricia) of Wytheville, Virginia, Bobby Smiley (Janice) of South Hill, Virginia, Debra Smiley-Weindel (Johnny) of Boydton, Virginia: sisters-in-law Mary Smiley of South Hill, Virginia, and Edith Smiley of South Hill, Virginia; grandchildren Zoë McDaniel of Billings, Montana, Zane McDaniel of San Diego, California, Sullivan McDaniel of Happy Valley, Oregon, Asa Wise (Rosa) of Lyme, New Hampshire, Sophie Wise of Burlington, Vermont, and Isla Wise of Lyme, New Hampshire; and great-granddaughter Lydia Wise of Lyme New Hampshire. She will be greatly missed.
Memorial Service
Ephesus Baptist Church
1642 Smith Cross Road, South Hill, VA 23970
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Visitation, 2:15 p.m.
Memorial Service, 3:00 p.m.
Graveside Committal Ceremony. Edna Jane will be laid to rest with her late husband,
Fred McDaniel, immediately following the memorial service.

Celebration of Life
Rosemont Winery
1050 Blackridge Road, La Crosse, VA 23950
6:00 p.m. Food and beverages will be provided.