Rev. Daniel Parker Yeager was the son of Lucinda Jane Dodd and Daniel Wayne Yeager. His mother was the daughter of Alsender "Sendy" Sample Dodd, born in Union County, SC; and Sarah Ann Word. The Dodd family moved to Alabama by way of Georgia where Lucinda was born about 1841-1842. Daniel's obituary in "Journal of the Mississippi Conference, the Methodist Church," 1952 Session:
"Daniel Parker Yeager (1870-1952) By W. B. Jones
"Daniel Parker Yeager was born on March 30, 1870, in Cuba, Alabama. When he was two months old, his parents, Daniel Wayne Yeager and Lucinda Dodd Yeager, moved to Toomsuba, Mississippi. His mother was the daughter of a Methodist minister, of Lockhart, Mississippi. The home in which he was reared was not wealthy except in the spiritual values which abounded there. In it was the old fashioned family altar which meant so much in building strong, rock-ribbed character.
"He was brought up in the lap of the church. There is no wonder that from the home came two Methodist preachers: Dan and his brother, George C. [should be George G.] who also labored long and actively in the Conference. Being the eldest son of a large family, Dan had to take the lead among the children, and he was active and constant in all the church services. He united with the church when a young boy, and was never happier than when sitting in her pews or ministering at her altars.
"When a young man he was engaged in farming. The resources of the home were not equal to providing ample education facilities, but he gladly took advantage of every opportunity in a successful way. His main opportunity of study in school was at Toomsuba, except together with short courses which he took at Millsaps College and Birmingham Southern College. But he made excellent use of his knowledge throughout life. His theological training came from taking the Conference Course of Study for a period of four years through correspondence in Emory University. It was of great value to him.
"His first marriage was to Miss Mattie Robertson at Toomsuba, December 13, 1893, and to this happy union were born four daughters, Effie, Ola Ree, Belle and Earline [shd be Jessie]. The mother and baby died in 1905. The daughters living now are, Mrs. Ernest Hudson, Mrs. Joe Stephenson and Mrs. Belle Cobb. After the death of the wife and mother, the father and daughters lived alone for a number of years.
"Leaving the farm, he went to Meridian and worked with a lumber company until he became connected with Beeson's College for a period of four years. His 3 daughters were in school there, entering in 1910. While he was engaged at the College he worked faithfully in the Seventh Avenue Church, now called Wesley. He taught in the Sunday School and was superintendent, and he labored earnestly for the cause of missions in that community.
"Brother Yeager felt the call and urge to preach; and he was licensed to preach by the Meridian District Conference in May 1912 and preached at every call he received. While at the College he organized the Pine Springs Church, which is still active and is now on the Pleasant Grove Charge. After leaving the College he served in the Methodist Orphanage at Jackson during 1914 and 1915. While yet a local preacher he served as pastor of the Pleasant Grove Charge from April 1917 until the Annual Conference of 1920, and served the Matherville Charge in 1921, also as supply pastor.
"He was admitted on trial into the Mississippi Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Capitol Street Church, Jackson, on December 2, 1921, Bishop McMurry presiding. He was then 51 years of age; the writer was a member of the Committee on Admissions. Since Brother Yeager did not have the required educational equipment to meet the conditions of admission, some of the Committee doubted the wisdom of recommending one of that age for admission on trial. But, because he had been a local preacher for eight years, and had served charges very acceptably, others of us insisted that the matter be the responsibility of the Conference, and thus his name was referred to the Conference by agreement, without recommendation. The Conference gladly admitted him by unanimous vote, and surely no one ever regretted it. He served the Matherville Charge in 1922 and 1923.
"He was received into full connection at Gulfport, on November 18, 1923, with Bishop W. N. Ainsworth presiding; and on the next day the Bishop ordained him deacon. The same Bishop ordained him elder at Hattiesburg on November 13, 1925, at the Annual Conference. After his reception into full connection, he served the following charges: Porterville, 1924-27; Chunky, 1928-29; Burnside, 1930-33; Camden, 1934-37; Union Church, 1938; Bogue Chitto, 1939; Williamsburg, 1940-42. He was superannuated at the Conference of 1942, having reached the age for retirement. He served Cross Roads Charge as retired supply 1943-45. He moved to Porterville on November 1, 1945, intending to make that his home for the remainder of his days on earth. At that time, because of the lack of preachers in the Conference, there was no pastor at Porterville. The church itself had been torn down for two years, waiting ability to build another. These things touched deeply the sympathetic heart of this noble man, and without delay he took charge and with great difficulty he helped to build the
pretty chapel that is there now. On his 77th birthday he preached his last sermon as pastor. We would all say, "Well done!"
"Not long after his full connection in the Conference he gained another helper n his marriage to Miss Lora Davis of Porterville, on December 28, 1924. She has shared in all of these appointments, and has been by his side in all of his labors, rejoicing with him in all his successes and weeping with him in all his disappointments and sorrows and sufferings. This congenial couple has wrought well in the vineyard of the Lord. To them was born a son, Daniel Parker, Jr. who is now a grown man. On him may the mantle of the father fall. The mother and son feel the weight of their heavy loss, but are striving to carry on as he would have them do.
"Brother Yeager loved the church and he loved people. He was never in too great a hurry to have a pleasant word with one whom he met and never too tired to be at church when not too feeble. He attended even on the Sunday before he received the fatal stroke on the following Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock. As he left for the hospital he said, "This is the end." He died on Thursday at an early hour. He had given a total of thirty years of ministerial service to The Methodist Church that he loved more than he loved life itself in the body.
"Brother Yeager went to his heavenly home on May 1, 1952. Funeral services were held at the Fifth Street Church in Meridian, conducted by A.L. Meadows, pastor, Horace Welch, the Porterville pastor, and A.S. Oliver and T.J. O'Neil. His grandsons were pall bearers.
"Thus ended the life of a consecrated man of God, a faithful friend, a useful worker, an influential servant of Christ and His Church, one who has fulfilled the duties assigned to him--all except the duty to die, and he was ready to do that, and he did it well.
"God be with you till we meet again."