Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameEleanor Grey DANIELS 
3, Eleanor Grey Daniels King
3, Eleanor Grey Daniels KingBirth1926, Orange County, North Carolina3, Eleanor Grey Daniels King
DeathNov 27, 20173, Eleanor Grey Daniels King
BurialLebanon United Methodist Church, 6101 Lebanon Road, Cheeks Twp, Orange County, North Carolina3, Eleanor Grey Daniels King
FatherRainey Samuel DANIELS (1899-1983)
MotherLola Mae HARRIS (1901-1992)
Obituary Online notes for Eleanor Grey DANIELS
11/28/2017
Eleanor Grey Daniels King
DURHAM, NC - Eleanor would like to inform everyone that King's Beauty Shop is now officially CLOSED… stating, "It has truly been an honor and a pleasure to have helped make the world a prettier place by washing, cutting, setting, styling, and coloring the hair of so many wonderful women (and even a few men from time to time) in and around my second home, Durham NC.”
So now, after 73 glorious years as a self-employed Beautician in the Bull City, she recently received a call — sort of an offer she couldn’t refuse — to travel to a wondrous place where she can "catch up on all the latest” with all of her Customers, Family and Friends who have gone before her… and there have been many. As she would say, "It’s impossible to do somebody’s hair for 40 years and not become a friend — even the ones that aggravate you."
Eleanor Grey Daniels King was born in Orange County in 1926, when the average life expectancy for women in the US was 58 years old. She was the second child, but the first girl, for Rainey Samuel Daniels and Lola Harris Daniels. Raised on a farm, she quickly learned that "Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.” And while she was a good ol’ country girl at heart, the big city lights were also calling her.
Right after High School graduation, Eleanor moved to Durham to attend Beauty College in 1944. And by the end of the year, she graduated as one of the top hairdressers of her class… and the rest is history.
Sure, she's had her ups and downs, but to borrow a line from the movie, Steel Magnolias (one of her alltime favorites); “...my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair.” And that’s the way she rolled. She didn’t have time to stop and feel sorry for herself. She had her Customers, and they were depending on her, regardless of how she felt or what she was going through personally.
She’s also seen Customers come and go, but she was most proud of her “Regulars” — the ones that came to get beautiful again every week or so, year after year. But as her “Regulars" would one-by-one leave this earth, she would simply pack up her “Beauty Bag” and head off to the Funeral Home for one last "touch-up" (I still don’t know how she did that).
And yet, with all that dedication to her Customers, she still found time to be the best Mom in the whole world.
But, now it’s time for her to put away her appointment book and finally close up shop here on earth. Eleanor, you done good, girl.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her father, her mother, her older brother Wayne Daniels, her brother-in-law Cecil Isley, and her niece, Sheila. She is survived by her only son, Tracy King and his wife Martha, of Durham, NC, and 3 Grandsons who were her pride and joy - David King (and Lexi) of Wilmington, NC, James King of Greensboro, NC and Andrew King of Raleigh, NC. Eleanor is also survived by her younger brother Richard Daniels and his wife Bonnie, of Mebane NC, her younger sister Raynelle Isley, of Elon NC, and 10 nieces and nephews, Linda, Larry, Sam, Mike, Kay, Dianne, Kenneth, Deborah, Randy, and Rick.
There will be a graveside service for all of Eleanor's Customers, Family and Friends on Wednesday, November 29th at 2:00 pm at the Lebanon United Methodist Church cemetery, located down the road behind the church at 6101 Lebanon Road in Mebane, NC. Eleanor is returning home, to be buried on land that her father donated to the church many, many moons ago.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Duke Hospice – Hock Family Pavilion, 919-479-0318, or online at
https://www.gifts.duke.edu/daa. 3, Eleanor Grey Daniels King
Eleanor Grey Daniels King
DURHAM, NC - Eleanor would like to inform everyone that King's Beauty Shop is now officially CLOSED… stating, "It has truly been an honor and a pleasure to have helped make the world a prettier place by washing, cutting, setting, styling, and coloring the hair of so many wonderful women (and even a few men from time to time) in and around my second home, Durham NC.”
So now, after 73 glorious years as a self-employed Beautician in the Bull City, she recently received a call — sort of an offer she couldn’t refuse — to travel to a wondrous place where she can "catch up on all the latest” with all of her Customers, Family and Friends who have gone before her… and there have been many. As she would say, "It’s impossible to do somebody’s hair for 40 years and not become a friend — even the ones that aggravate you."
Eleanor Grey Daniels King was born in Orange County in 1926, when the average life expectancy for women in the US was 58 years old. She was the second child, but the first girl, for Rainey Samuel Daniels and Lola Harris Daniels. Raised on a farm, she quickly learned that "Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.” And while she was a good ol’ country girl at heart, the big city lights were also calling her.
Right after High School graduation, Eleanor moved to Durham to attend Beauty College in 1944. And by the end of the year, she graduated as one of the top hairdressers of her class… and the rest is history.
Sure, she's had her ups and downs, but to borrow a line from the movie, Steel Magnolias (one of her alltime favorites); “...my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair.” And that’s the way she rolled. She didn’t have time to stop and feel sorry for herself. She had her Customers, and they were depending on her, regardless of how she felt or what she was going through personally.
She’s also seen Customers come and go, but she was most proud of her “Regulars” — the ones that came to get beautiful again every week or so, year after year. But as her “Regulars" would one-by-one leave this earth, she would simply pack up her “Beauty Bag” and head off to the Funeral Home for one last "touch-up" (I still don’t know how she did that).
And yet, with all that dedication to her Customers, she still found time to be the best Mom in the whole world.
But, now it’s time for her to put away her appointment book and finally close up shop here on earth. Eleanor, you done good, girl.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her father, her mother, her older brother Wayne Daniels, her brother-in-law Cecil Isley, and her niece, Sheila. She is survived by her only son, Tracy King and his wife Martha, of Durham, NC, and 3 Grandsons who were her pride and joy - David King (and Lexi) of Wilmington, NC, James King of Greensboro, NC and Andrew King of Raleigh, NC. Eleanor is also survived by her younger brother Richard Daniels and his wife Bonnie, of Mebane NC, her younger sister Raynelle Isley, of Elon NC, and 10 nieces and nephews, Linda, Larry, Sam, Mike, Kay, Dianne, Kenneth, Deborah, Randy, and Rick.
There will be a graveside service for all of Eleanor's Customers, Family and Friends on Wednesday, November 29th at 2:00 pm at the Lebanon United Methodist Church cemetery, located down the road behind the church at 6101 Lebanon Road in Mebane, NC. Eleanor is returning home, to be buried on land that her father donated to the church many, many moons ago.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Duke Hospice – Hock Family Pavilion, 919-479-0318, or online at
https://www.gifts.duke.edu/daa. 3, Eleanor Grey Daniels King