HUDSON, Fla. — For the staff and residents at The Angelus in Pasco County, Monday's news of the passing of country music legend Charlie Daniels was especially devastating.
What You Need To Know
- RELATED: Country rocker and fiddler Charlie Daniels dies at age 83
- The Angelus nonprofit operates a group of homes for those with physical challenges
- Daniels hosted a benefit weekend for The Angelus for 32 years
- More Pasco County stories
“Charlie was a good man. He’s a good American. Just a good person, so not having him here, it’s going to be a blow to everybody,” said executive director Joe Neri.
Daniels died Monday after suffering a stroke, according to doctors. He was 83 years old.
For 32 years, he hosted and performed at a benefit weekend for The Angelus. It was a labor of love that made all the difference to staff and residents alike.
“It was immense. His contribution is just obviously no words for it,” Neri said. “The funding from the state is alright but it doesn’t cover all the needs that we have. With Charlie’s support, we were able to do a lot of things that we could never do.”
There’s already a street sign and house named after Daniels on The Angelus’ property. However, his true legacy lives on in the countless people he’s helped over the decades.
“If people ask why he was here and what he did, we’ll just have to tell them all about Charlie,” Neri said.