Area’s only homeless shelter undergoes leadership change

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The area’s only homeless shelter will soon have a leadership change.  The current leaders at Tupelo’s Salvation Army are retiring after five years in Northeast Mississippi.

Major Jeff Daniel remembered the day in April 2014,  he found out he and his wife Linda would be transferred from a Salvation Army in Oklahoma, to the All America City.

“My reaction was, Tupelo Mississippi, what in the world.  And that afternoon, watched on the weather channel as the tornado came through,” said Maj. Daniel.

Majors Jeff and Linda Daniel have worked tirelessly during those five years, helping meet the needs of the homeless, hungry and hurting throughout Northeast Mississippi.  But a long-running battle with cancer has made it tough for Linda to perform the demanding work, so the Daniels are taking early retirement.

Both Jeff and Linda said they have been blessed to oversee the Tupelo Salvation Army and its daily operations. One of the biggest accomplishments during the past five years is the completion of a much needed and long overdue homeless shelter.

It will house more people and even has family units.

“With the help of community leaders, determined that what we’re seeing coming into completion now is going to enable the Salvation Army to serve the needs of the community for the future,” said Major Jeff Daniels.

Although the new shelter is almost complete, and renovations to the chapel and community center are underway, Majors Jeff and Linda Daniel don’t want people to forget about the day to day operating costs of running the ministry.

But they also have hope and faith in something called the Tupelo Spirit.

“In all the places we’ve served, this is most unique experience, where this is the most community support overall and have groups working together in a common effort to make Tupelo a great place,” said Maj. Jeff Daniels.

“Thanks for all the support,  we have thoroughly enjoyed it and we love Tupelo and will miss everyone here,” said Maj. Linda Daniel.

The Daniels will move to Oklahoma to be closer to their grandkids.

Majors Ray and Whitney Morton will be taking over in Tupelo. The Mortons have been serving in Shreveport, Louisiana.