Barton Neal Daniel Sr., age 61, broke through the barriers of physical life about 11pm on Monday, July 15, 2024. His son, Barton Jr., and oldest brother, Kent Daniel, were with him as he took his last breath.

Bart is survived by two grandchildren, Leon (5) and Hope (21 months); two children, Whitney (Sean) and Bart Jr. (Maca); his brother, Kent; his mother, Betsy Daniel, and father, Kenneth Daniel; and his aunts and uncles, Joan and Bill Hager, and Buddy & Shirley Berry. He is also survived by Anne Briggs Parker, the love of his life, and Patricia Adkins Daniel, the mother of his children and friend of many years. Awaiting his arrival in heaven were his brother, Greg, his beloved grandparents, and a grandchild that never made it earthside.

A native of Culpeper, Virginia, who grew to be fluent in the dialect of ethics, he found inspiration in the fictional character Atticus Finch. As the youngest of three wild boys, he often found the best method of leveling the playing field was with his tongue. It was a strength he leveraged to gain lifelong friends, mentor and guide his children, and advocate for those who couldn’t articulate their truth the way he could.

Bart graduated from Radford with a BS in Political Science in three & a half years. He then went on to pursue that real-life Atticus Finch vision at the George Mason School of Law. As a passionate young esquire, he took his aptitude for justice to the Tidewater area after obtaining his law degree.

He found a home practicing law at the renowned Decker Law Firm in Norfolk, VA. He went on to run his own practice for over two decades, representing countless clients, including a son with a heavy foot from time to time, pro-bono.

A 15-year battle with cancer, while being a minor footnote of an impassioned life lived, secretly held the truth in what it means to lead a life worth being inspired by. Taking one of his Saturday morning 90-minute Vinyasa classes at Hot House Yoga in Virginia Beach in the 2000s was an event many in the 757 would seek out. You would be left with tears, laughter, and a sense of being part of something larger than yourself. He was also a black belt in Taekwondo, an avid runner, boogie board aficionado, and grill master. Bart Daniel will be greatly missed for his sincerity in interaction, passion in his approach to life, and perseverance in the face of true challenges. He would tell anyone willing to listen, that the main character in his story, was Jesus Christ. Bart’s love for Jesus and his unyielding faith in a calling higher than himself, was truly inspiring.

Bart’s family is planning two celebrations of life – one in the mountains and one at the beach.

The first celebration will be held at Rapidan Baptist Church, in Madison, VA, on Saturday, July 27th at 1pm.

Dates and details for the Virginia Beach celebration will be shared in the near future.

Our family is so appreciative of the constant outpouring of love for our father and friend.