Anita L. Swain
Published 6:00 am Saturday, October 2, 2010
Services for Anita Lowe Swain will be Monday, at 11 a.m., at First Christian Church with Dr. Tom Sikes officiating. Burial will be in Kewanee at the Kewanee Baptist Church Memorial Cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Swain, 87, of Meridian, died on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, at Anderson Regional Medical Center. She was born July 25, 1923, the only child of J.R. and Grace Collier Lowe of the Kewanee community. A 1941 graduate of Dixie Highway School, Mrs. Swain maintained a close relationship with many of her classmates, especially the six who began first grade together and graduated together
12 years later. After graduation, she moved to Jackson where she attended business college and worked for Westbrook Manufacturing Company as accounts payable and payroll clerk for over eight years. From 1970 to 1976, she worked in the administrative office of Meridian High School.
On Nov. 25, 1945, she married Joe Robert Swain of Kewanee after his return from service in World War II. Mr. Swain joined the Air Force Reserves in 1948 and his unit was activated in 1951. They resided in Jackson until 1951 when they moved to Memphis, Tenn., where their only child, Anita Jo, was born in 1953. For the next 19 years, they enjoyed life in the military, living and traveling extensively in many states and foreign countries before returning home to Meridian to enjoy retirement together.
Mrs. Swain has been a member of First Christian Church in Meridian since 2001, where she has made many wonderful friends. Prior to joining that church, she was actively involved in all aspects of church life at Trinity Presbyterian Church for over 30 years. She was a member of several local clubs including the Round Table Club and the Exchangettes, the ladies group affiliated with the Tom Bailey Drive Exchange Club of which Mr. Swain was an active member. Mr. and Mrs. Swain enjoyed attending district and state Exchange Club functions. A devoted Atlanta Braves fan, she could talk at length about the players, their families and statistics about the games.
As a young girl and throughout the remainder of her life, she had a deep love of all types of music, especially the piano. She spent many happy hours playing the piano and enjoyed sharing her talent with others. Her first memorable performance was playing for church services at Toomsuba Presbyterian Church at the age of 13.
Survivors include: her husband of 64 years, Joe R. Swain of Meridian; her daughter and son-in-law, Anita Jo and Bill Ross of Meridian; her half-sister, Becky Lowe Costilow and her husband, Larry of Meridian; her “sister-cousin”, Alatha Greene Mason and her husband, O.D. of Butler, Ala.; a
cousin, Robert M. Collier and his wife, Connie of Grand Junction, Colo.; sisters-in-law: Miriam Swain Culpepper, Mary Swain Gaddis, Pauline Swain Castle and Mary Roberson Swain; family friend, Sandra Wood; and, special caregiver, Betty Kennedy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, J.R. Lowe and Grace Collier Lowe Autry, and a special aunt, Amelia Collier Young.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.
Pallbearers will be Alan Mason, Leonard Cobb, Tommy Boren, Scott Morgan, Marcel Telders and Wayne Culpepper.
Family and friends may sign online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.