Jamie S. McDaniel, Pastor of Bethel Independent Baptist Church, Passes Away in Georgia

Jamie S. McDaniel, age 49, of Sandersville, Georgia, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 25, 2026, while working at Bethel Independent Baptist Church in Louisville, Georgia, where he faithfully served as pastor.

A funeral service affirming our faith and honoring Jamie’s life will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Westside Baptist Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. until the hour of service at 2:00 p.m., also at the church. Following the service, Jamie will be laid to rest at Hicks Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Mooresville, North Carolina.

Jamie grew up in Mooresboro, North Carolina, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents, Jimmy and Cella Leach who were a big influence on his life. He was a graduate of Chase High School. During his high school years, he developed a love for agriculture and participated in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), an early reflection of his appreciation for hard work and practical skills.

Jamie began his working career in carpentry and eventually established his own construction company, McDaniel Builders. He later pursued training as a heating and air conditioning technician, joining Waldrop Heating and Air before moving to Trane Heating and Air, where he worked in commercial HVAC installation. Throughout his career, Jamie demonstrated a strong work ethic and a commitment to providing for his family.

The most important turning point in Jamie’s life came at the age of 36, when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. From that moment forward, his faith became the foundation of his life. He joined Southside Baptist Church in Chesnee, South Carolina, and later became an active and devoted member of Westside Baptist Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. At Westside, Jamie served as a church deacon and became an integral part of the church’s leadership.

As his faith continued to grow, Jamie felt God calling him to preach. In January 2016, he began preaching to children through the church’s bus ministry, sharing the love of Jesus with young hearts and helping lay the foundation for the ministry God had planned for him.

In 2023, Jamie began to feel God leading him toward a new mission: planting a church in Georgia. Trusting in the Lord’s direction, Jamie and his family followed that calling. In 2026, they moved to Sandersville, Georgia, where Jamie established Bethel Independent Baptist Church in Louisville, Georgia, and served as its pastor. What began as a calling in his heart became a mission fulfilled through faith, obedience, and a willingness to serve wherever God led him.

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