Nathaniel Daniel Jordan II

Nathaniel D. Jordan, II age 68 transitioned peacefully to eternity on June 12, 2024, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was born into this world a “preemie” on March 6, 1956, weighing only 4 lbs. 6ozs. He was in the NICU for 4 weeks, never giving up his fight. Finally, after reaching a weight of 5 lbs., his parents, Bishop Nathaniel D. Jordan and Marta J. Jordan brought their first-born son home.

“Danny” as he was affectionately called by his family and childhood friends, was born in Columbus, Ohio at University Hospital. He attended Chicago Avenue Elementary School, Mifflin Jr. High, and Mifflin High School. Danny loved football. He played little league football in the 1960s with the Linden Eagles, (95-lb. team) where they scored 431-0 in a 10-game season. He was an outstanding quarterback at Mifflin High School from his freshmen year (Mid-8 Conference) to his senior year. Mifflin became part of Columbus City Schools during his sophomore year. He also played basketball from the 7th through 10th grade. Danny was the ultimate Cleveland Browns fan. He became a huge fan while watching Jim Brown as a youngster with his dad and younger brothers. He has never wavered since. He recently joined the Browns of Columbus (a group of Browns fan-atics), where they get together to cheer on the Browns and have a good time. In 1974, Danny enrolled at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Bowling Green, Ohio. The next year he pledged Kappa Alpha Psi, the largest Black fraternity in the nation, alongside his three protégés...Walter Henry, Byron Potts, and Kevin Rakestraw, where the four of them would later become known as the “Wild Bunch” on the campus of BGSU. While at Bowling Green (College of Business), Danny double majored in Marketing & Sales and Sales Management. Danny was a talented musician. As a 20-year-old sophomore, he played trumpet in the “Fabulous Wonder Band” (BGSU Legends), where they had a video that played on TV for 25+ years before MTV debuted.

Danny’s savvy business acumen garnered employment with companies such as AT&T, Avaya Communication, and Lucent Technologies. He held the position of Executive Director of the Fatherhood Matters Program and was a collaborative founder at Global Life Chances Improvement Institute, where he worked on the neuroscience-optimal psychology WeOptimize project for children since 2016. For the past ten years, he has been the Executive Director of the Columbus Kappa Foundation, where he managed the distribution of Narcan in the community. Danny had an outstanding rapport within the government sector, where he negotiated numerous contracts throughout the City of Columbus with agencies such as the Franklin County Commissioners Office. Danny was a long-standing member of the Thursday Noon Club, a group of men and women who meet weekly at the Eldon & Elsie Ward Branch of the YMCA on Woodland Avenue. The members discuss issues and concerns that affect the community. Danny was also a major player in the Classic for Columbus, a community celebration of education and culture that raises funds for HBCUs under the leadership of its President and CEO, John Pace.

During his childhood Danny attended the Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith (Brentnell). He later attended Apostolic Faith Temple, where his father is the founder and pastor. Danny had a strong relationship with the Lord and would often spend hours studying the Bible and its teachings.

Danny was a pillar of the Columbus community. His drive to get things done amassed numerous awards and recognition. Some of the awards and honors he received are the Kappa Alpha Psi Polemarch’s Award for Outstanding Service in 2013, 2017, and 2024; Columbus City Council Community Service Award by 100 Black Women Columbus 2023; Every One Reach One Dayton & Montgomery County Infant Mortality Task Force Certificate of Appreciation 2017; The Columbus Kappa Foundation Chairman’s Award 2014.

Danny had plans to author a book chronicling his life as a “fighter” from birth to adulthood. He had begun recording his memories while he was in the hospital recuperating from his most recent (back) surgery. He was also making plans to travel to Roanoke, Virginia to research his family descendants and learn more about his family history.

Danny is preceded in death by his paternal great-grandparents Charlie Nichols and Delia Mason, his paternal grandparents Albert Joe and Hattie Jordan, his maternal grandparents Neil and Ruth Seward; maternal aunts; Patricia Thigpen, Carolyn Roddy (Ernest Roddy Sr.), maternal uncles; Neil Seward and Richard Seward., his mother and heart, Marta Jean Jordan. 

He is survived by his father, Bishop Nathaniel D. Jordan, children Jeremy Butler-Jordan and Tyina (Paulisha) Jordan, godson Travis Marshall, siblings April (Dale) Williams, Dwayne (Lisa) Jordan, Jeffrey (Dorothy) Jordan, Miles Jordan, and Dale (Lois) Jordan, grandchildren Jaiana, Judah, and Savannah, great-grandson Karter, best friend and soulmate, Crystal Wilson, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, colleagues, and friends.