1939
Willis
2017
Willis J. Swain
August 27, 1939 — March 23, 2017
Willis J. Swain
TUPELO – Willis J. Swain, 77, a longtime Tupelo funeral director, died Thursday, March 23, 2017, in the hospice unit at North Mississippi Medical Center. A native and lifelong resident of Tupelo, he was born August 27, 1939, to Willis Owen and Myrtie Ford Swain. Willis began working with W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors June 1, 1956, through a senior work experience program, prior to his graduation from Tupelo High School in 1957. This began a long and storied career in funeral service. While at Pegues, Willis was able to serve his state apprenticeship prior to attending and graduating from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee. While in school in Nashville, he worked for Marshall-Donnely-Combs Funeral Home. Upon graduation from John A. Gupton, he married Janice Martin of Tupelo in 1959, and they were married 47 years prior to her death in 2007. They moved to Memphis where he worked a short while with Memphis Funeral Home before they returned home to Tupelo. Willis had served in the Mississippi Army National Guard and had participated in the integration of James Meredith at Ole Miss when President Kennedy nationalized the Mississippi Guard in 1962. Willis was an active and longtime member of the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association and had served on numerous committees and as a district governor for a number of years. He was also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association. In the mid 1980's, Willis was appointed by Gov. Bill Allain to serve on the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service. Willis retired from W. E. Pegues May 31, 2006, where he had spent his entire career after completion of his funeral service education. He served the last 27 years of his career as general manager for W. E. Pegues. That same year in 2006, Willis was recognized by the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association for his 50 year contribution to funeral service. He was a member of Gloster Street Church of Christ.
Willis loved spending time outdoors with his family and friends. He enjoyed hunting, four-wheeling and fishing at Nettleton Hunting Club, camping at his favorite local spots and especially boating on Pickwick Lake. Willis appreciated good food and a fine meal. He would often travel to various restaurants throughout North Mississippi for food and fellowship. Willis was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and also enjoyed watching football.
He is survived by his wife Joyce Kennedy Clark Swain; five sons, David Swain (Teresa) of Nettleton, Brad Swain (Angie) of Saltillo, David Clark (Patsy) of Brandon, Jonathan Clark of Tupelo and Joseph Christopher Clark (Kelly) of Tupelo; grandchildren, Ashlyn Stevens (Mark) of Guntown, Zach Swain of Saltillo, Searcy Lynne Swain of Saltillo, Anna Bostick (Cole) of Memphis, Tennessee, Austin Clark of San Antonio, Texas, Tiffany Rinehart (Patrick) and Cory Gates (Jessica) of Augusta, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25, 2017, at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Ministers Chad Ramsey, Tim Green and Rickey Pierce officiating. Graveside services will follow at Tupelo Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be the staff of W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors.
Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Kilgo, Billy Langford, Billy Burks, Benny Randall, Freddy White, Terry Smith, Travis Avant, Bill Tallant, Bobby Wages and members of his "Saturday Morning Breakfast Club".
Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .
TUPELO – Willis J. Swain, 77, a longtime Tupelo funeral director, died Thursday, March 23, 2017, in the hospice unit at North Mississippi Medical Center. A native and lifelong resident of Tupelo, he was born August 27, 1939, to Willis Owen and Myrtie Ford Swain. Willis began working with W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors June 1, 1956, through a senior work experience program, prior to his graduation from Tupelo High School in 1957. This began a long and storied career in funeral service. While at Pegues, Willis was able to serve his state apprenticeship prior to attending and graduating from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee. While in school in Nashville, he worked for Marshall-Donnely-Combs Funeral Home. Upon graduation from John A. Gupton, he married Janice Martin of Tupelo in 1959, and they were married 47 years prior to her death in 2007. They moved to Memphis where he worked a short while with Memphis Funeral Home before they returned home to Tupelo. Willis had served in the Mississippi Army National Guard and had participated in the integration of James Meredith at Ole Miss when President Kennedy nationalized the Mississippi Guard in 1962. Willis was an active and longtime member of the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association and had served on numerous committees and as a district governor for a number of years. He was also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association. In the mid 1980's, Willis was appointed by Gov. Bill Allain to serve on the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service. Willis retired from W. E. Pegues May 31, 2006, where he had spent his entire career after completion of his funeral service education. He served the last 27 years of his career as general manager for W. E. Pegues. That same year in 2006, Willis was recognized by the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association for his 50 year contribution to funeral service. He was a member of Gloster Street Church of Christ.
Willis loved spending time outdoors with his family and friends. He enjoyed hunting, four-wheeling and fishing at Nettleton Hunting Club, camping at his favorite local spots and especially boating on Pickwick Lake. Willis appreciated good food and a fine meal. He would often travel to various restaurants throughout North Mississippi for food and fellowship. Willis was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and also enjoyed watching football.
He is survived by his wife Joyce Kennedy Clark Swain; five sons, David Swain (Teresa) of Nettleton, Brad Swain (Angie) of Saltillo, David Clark (Patsy) of Brandon, Jonathan Clark of Tupelo and Joseph Christopher Clark (Kelly) of Tupelo; grandchildren, Ashlyn Stevens (Mark) of Guntown, Zach Swain of Saltillo, Searcy Lynne Swain of Saltillo, Anna Bostick (Cole) of Memphis, Tennessee, Austin Clark of San Antonio, Texas, Tiffany Rinehart (Patrick) and Cory Gates (Jessica) of Augusta, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25, 2017, at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Ministers Chad Ramsey, Tim Green and Rickey Pierce officiating. Graveside services will follow at Tupelo Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be the staff of W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors.
Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Kilgo, Billy Langford, Billy Burks, Benny Randall, Freddy White, Terry Smith, Travis Avant, Bill Tallant, Bobby Wages and members of his "Saturday Morning Breakfast Club".
Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Willis J. Swain, please visit our flower store.
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