Tripp Daley

     On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, our beloved Poppa, Oscar H. Daley III, known to all as Tripp, stepped into the presence of his Savior after a long, courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his family, friends, and the best caregiver, our mom. Watching our mom give endless care to our Poppa gave Clay and me a life-long blueprint for marriage and devotion. She would never sleep during his last days, always by his side. I asked her how she was still going, and she said prayer, that God was her rock and gave her the strength to push through every day. Born September 25, 1961, in Savannah, Georgia, to Oscar Hopson Jr. and Burnette Bowers Daley, Poppa lived a life marked by vigor, integrity, and a steadfast devotion to faith, family, and service. His legacy is one of unwavering belief for his Lord and Savior, endless love for his family and friends, timeless work, and a heart that never stopped giving.

     From an early age, Poppa embraced the value of hard work which he passed on to Clay and me. He instilled in both of us that hard work comes with sacrifice. He taught us to be independent and to always put God first. In high school, his passion was all sports but the fury of competition in football was where his heart was. He was immensely proud to play for Thomas Heyward Academy under the leadership of Coach Barry Turpin. As a fullback and defensive tackle, he was a cornerstone of the team that secured state championships in 1977, 1978, and 1979. Every bone-jarring hit, every drop of sweat, and every victory helped shape the grit and determination that would define him for the rest of his life. Poppa loved watching all of his grandchildren play sports. You would know he was around because you would hear him telling the umpires or referees what a good or bad call had been made. He would also let the coaches know what they should have done from the stands. Poppa’s love of the game and love of his grandkids had gotten him tossed out of a little league game and even allowed him to watch his grandson Timber win a football state championship. He truly enjoyed watching Spencer, Timber, Bellah, Bryer, and Kinley step on the field, court, or shooting range.

     Someone told me they thought Poppa was a born leader. From the field to the pulpit to his community, he never met a stranger. I’m not sure if people shook his hand to be nice or to see just how big his hands really were. He also had a love for his country. He loved his mornings at “the Porch”, Waffle House, or with Leon at Eats & Sweets, drinking coffee and getting up to speed with what was going on in town. I would say he enjoyed meeting the “wise men” at the Porch every morning before work: Mr. Claude Spilliards, Mr. Pete, Coach Hult, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Bailey, and Mr. Rodgers. Everyone had their own coffee cup and if you were lucky enough, you even got a gold-plated name plate at the table.

     Poppa loved his community, he loved people, and he had the gift of being able to talk to or listen to anyone. Poppa had the ability to listen to someone in need and knew exactly what to say. I would always tell people to talk with him if they had a situation or just needed advice. But I would say to them, “If you ask him for the truth, be prepared for the truth.” He didn’t candy coat anything. If you did not want the advice and true answers, he was not the one to go to for advice. Poppa was our rock, our guide, and our greatest inspiration. We will carry his lessons in our heart forever. His values will always be strong in our lives: God first, family, a strong work ethic, manners, and the love for good food.

     On May 10, 1985, under the branches of the Grahamville Oak at the corner of Ellis Hodges and Bees Creek Roads, Poppa married our mom, Faye Sauls. Together they built a life rooted in devotion, partnership, and shared purpose. Poppa poured his strength and skills into a career as a residential home builder. He became owner of Palmetto Developers, Inc., on June 16, 1996, carrying the same discipline and endurance he lived by into his craft. I worked for him for 21 years and saw first-hand he didn’t build to get rich; instead, he built for the love of his work. He loved meeting new clients because it meant he could plant a seed of faith. He said he knew his work was about far more than swinging a hammer - it was about building something lasting, something meaningful.

     Poppa’s greatest masterpiece however, was not constructed of wood or nails. On April 12, 2015, he was ordained as a Baptist minister. Poppa answered a call he once believed he was too rough-edged to fulfill. God had cleaned him up from a sinner to a born-again Christian, molding his life into a preacher and a teacher of His Word. He would often say in his testimony that God had his work cut out when he selected Tripp Daley for the ministry. In my opinion, this is why people loved to hear his sermons - because they could relate to him and how he preached the Word in a testament of his life that was real. Though he held no formal degree, Poppa preached God’s Word exactly as the Lord laid it on his heart. He was a man of scripture - humble, earnest and unwavering. The scripture he found strength and instruction in is James 1:5: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (KJV) Poppa spoke only after careful preparation, prayer, and after seeking God’s direction. With callused hands and a teachable spirit, he learned to navigate the thin, crisp pages of scripture, guided by the late Reverend Derris Davenport and a circle of Christian brothers who helped shape him into the pastor he became. One of his greatest joys was studying the gospel along with his brother, Wilbur, as both submitted to Christ’s callings. By the time Poppa left this world, the pages of his Bible were softened and worn - evidence of a life steeped in the Word.

     Poppa was called into the role of pastor at Gillisonville Baptist Church in 2015, and led the congregation to new heights. Although he didn’t get to witness the finished new sanctuary, thanks to his church family, he was able to preach in the unfinished building. Beyond his local work as pastor, he and Mom went on numerous mission trips to Honduras, using his trade as a carpenter and his passion for the gospel to lead others to Christ while leaving them with new churches. He was quick to say that even though the people who were being served by church missions were supposed to receive the gifts and blessings, that he and Mom were the ones who ultimately received blessings and abundant joy from having done God’s work on Earth. Poppa didn’t just build buildings, he built relationships, communities, and hope.

     Poppa is survived by his mother, Burnette Bowers Pinckney; wife, Faye; daughter Brandy Hexamer (Nathan), and son, Clay Daley (Calla); grandchildren Spencer Hexamer (Allison), Timber Hexamer (Brittany), Bellah Hexamer, and Bryer and Kinley Daley; great grandchildren Anna Claire, Hadley, Indie, and Hudson; and Tripp’s only sibling, Wilbur Daley. Tripp taught his family the value of perseverance, the importance of rising above sorrow, and above all, the promise of salvation. We would like to extend a special thank you to Bailey Moore and Katie Pearce, Friends of Caroline Hospice, and Dee Ann Sanders, for all the quality care and support we received during Poppa’s final weeks. We would also like to thank the Gillisonville Baptist Church family and the entire community for the prayers, support, meals, gifts, and Christian love given to the family.

     A celebration of life will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Ridgeland Baptist Church, Grays Highway, Ridgeland, SC. We will receive friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service at the church. Burial will follow in Grahamville Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Gillisonville Baptist Church in memory of the late Reverend Tripp Daley. We leave you with Mom’s favorite Bible verse as a testament to Poppa’s life and his wish for each of us: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” Philippians 3:14-16 (KJV)

~ Brandy

     From an early age, Poppa taught me to be tough and independent, always teaching me that anything worth having had to be earned - that nothing was just handed to you. He taught me to be respectful, honest, and to always pay my debts; he said to never make a promise I couldn’t keep. Poppa taught me to stand up for people who couldn’t stand up for themselves, to never start a fight, but if someone showed up to fight, always finish it. He sometimes had trouble showing affection, so he showed it through hard work and generosity to his family. He gave unconditionally, often putting his own needs aside. Although he worked every day of his life, Poppa never missed one single event of my life; from the smallest to the biggest, he and mom were always there. Poppa taught me the importance of family and to always be there for each other. He taught me life was about choices, and whether good or bad, my choices would have consequences that would affect not only me but everyone else around me. Most importantly, Poppa taught me Jesus Christ has to be the center of my life, that He is the rock and foundation everything is built upon. He stressed that there is a big difference between being a “Christ fan” and a “Christ follower”. In October 1992, Tripp Daley, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, made the decision to be a follower of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches us to not judge each other, but that we can see the type of fruit being produced in his life. There is no doubt about where Poppa stood in his life; that’s what made him so special. He wasn’t just words - he practiced what he preached and led by example. “...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:1

~ Clay

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