Skip to content

Rev. Dr. Marvin Ervin Dailey

Rev. Dr. Marvin Ervin Dailey
Apr. 29, 1941 – Aug. 16, 2020

Rev. Dr. Marvin Ervin Dailey passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday August 16, 2020 at his home in Chickasaw, Alabama at the age of 79. Ervin, as he was known to his friends and the community, was the son of Ervin Delmo Dailey of Fatama, AL and Dorothy Faye Carter of Billingsley, AL.
Ervin was born on April 29, 1941 at the family home on Broad Street in Camden. In 1942 the family moved to Clanton, Alabama when Ervin’s father joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. Later, Ervin’s father enlisted in the U.S. Navy, joining the war effort against the Japanese in the Pacific. While his father was away, Ervin attended Elementary and High school in Clanton. He graduated from Chilton County High School in 1959. From there he attended Huntingdon College and decided to lead a life of service in The United Methodist Church. He was appointed to serve at Elmore Methodist Church in Elmore, Alabama. He went on to preach at Pierce Chapel near Wetumpka, Mt. Zion Methodist in Smith’s Station, and Tuskegee First United Methodist. In 1972 Dr. Dailey was appointed the Associate Director of the Alabama-West Florida Conference Council on Ministries and the family moved to Andalusia. In 1997 he was appointed pastor of the Chickasaw United Methodist Church, where he served until his retirement in June 2007. While working in the church he earned a master’s degree in Theology from Emory University in Atlanta and a Doctorate of Ministry from McCormick Theological school in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Dailey also served our country when by enlisting in the Alabama National Guard. He served in the 731st Maintenance Battalion in Tallassee, AL and the 1169th Engineer Group located in Huntsville, AL. While in the Guard he traveled to Ecuador, Panama, West Germany, and Egypt. He retired after 23 years as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Dr. Dailey loved airplanes and everything aviation related. He earned a pilot’s license in 1978 and owned two airplanes throughout his life. He loved to travel, and he loved to read books. He was involved in the Chickasaw Kiwanis Club where he served as President and later as Lt. Governor for Division 14 of the Alabama District. His favorite thing was to spend time at the old family land near Camden with his Chocolate Lab “Champ”. He loved visiting with the people of Camden and always considered Camden home. One of the things he loved best was the Enon Baptist Church just south of Camden on Hwy 265. Occasionally, he was asked to be a guest preacher at Enon Baptist.He treasured these opportunities. Up until the day he died, he looked forward to two things. The newsletter from Enon Baptist Church and his weekly copy of the Wilcox Progressive Era newspaper. We will all miss his laugh and his smile.
He is survived by his wife, Cecilia Ann Dailey; former wife, Virginia Kimbrough Dailey; two sons, Robert and Marvin Dailey; three stepsons, Frank, Richard, and Scott McClure; and sisters Sarah Faye Swanner and Dorothy Anne Collier; along with numerous grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Leave a Comment