Chattanooga-area businessman and minister, John Aaron Swafford, Jr., 85, died peacefully on Thursday afternoon, May 25, 2017.
He was born on Oct. 13, 1931, in South Pittsburg, to the late John Aaron and Ida Graham Swafford. The youngest of six children, it was often said that his siblings— Howard, Rosa Lee, Geneva, Ruby, and Ruth—seldom allowed his feet to touch the ground. He spent his school years at South Pittsburg playing football and working various jobs to help make ends meet. After graduating high school in 1950, he enrolled at Carson-Newman College and continued to work while playing football on scholarship. Following graduation in 1954, he enrolled at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Louisville, Kentucky and later obtained his master’s degree at MTSU. He pursued his love of learning by obtaining other degrees and certifications throughout the years.
In 1961, he met the love of his life, Wanda Brooks, while preaching at a church in Knoxville. Their marriage would span 55 years full of commitment and joy. Together, they welcomed the birth of their two daughters, Marybeth and Amy. He was also a beloved “Pawpaw” to seven grandchildren, Celia, Taylor, Josh, Jacob, Carrie, Caleb, and Aimee Grace, and one great-grandson, John Silas.
After years as a dedicated educator and coach, he “stumbled” into the furniture business while working at Bridgeport High School and pastoring at Rosalee Baptist Church. He would make a reputation for himself by encouraging everyone to “be sure to go to church on Sunday" at the close of each commercial. Over the course of 30 years he opened stores in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
Although he had many passions in his life, including his love of tennis and the Tennessee Vols, his true loves were his family and his Savior. His later years were filled with a missional purpose as he carried the Gospel to India, Korea, and Haiti, and ministered throughout the tri-state area in churches, nursing homes, and local television and radio ministries. His greatest joy was to encourage everyone he met to discover faith, hope, and the unconditional love of Jesus.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Howard Swafford, Sr., and sister-in-law, Claude Galbreath Swafford.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Wanda Sue Brooks Swafford; children, Marybeth Swafford (Glen) Kleisley and Amy Carol Swafford (Jake) Dockery; grandchildren, Celia Anzalone, Josh Hill, Carrie Hill, Aimee Grace Morrison, Taylor Dockery (Stephen) VanGorp, Jacob Dockery, and Caleb Dockery; great-grandson, John Silas VanGorp; sisters, Rosa Lee Swafford Pancoast, Geneva Swafford (George) Pomeroy, Ruby Swafford Brundige and Ruth Swafford O’Leary.
Visitation will be Sunday, May 28, from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Central time at Rogers Funeral Home, 400 Laurel Avenue, South Pittsburg.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday at 3 p.m. Central time at the First Baptist Church, 306 Fifth Street, South Pittsburg. Burial will be at Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens, Jasper.
The family suggests that memorial donations be made to Bethel Bible Village, 3001 Hamill Rd, Hixson, TN 37343 or www.bethelbiblevillage.org, or to the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, PO Box 2206, Brentwood, TN 37024.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.rogersfuneralhome.com.