Joann Price Swanson
It is with a mixture of sorrow and reverence that we announce the passing of Joann Price Swanson, whose life's journey was shaped by the challenges she faced and the perseverance she demonstrated in the face of adversity.
Born with polio as a child, she endured a life indelibly impacted by its effects. Though her illness created obstacles and ultimately prevented her from completing her formal education, she forged ahead with quiet determination, crafting a path uniquely her own. In time she found companionship in marriage and became a devoted mother to two sons. Her family expanded to include the joyful presence of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whose lives she touched in her own distinct way.
Her physical limitations drew an invisible line that made closeness with her broader family difficult, and the wounds of misunderstanding and isolation lingered across the years. Despite this, she found meaning in the small joys of her household, and her children-her greatest treasures-will hold her memory close, recalling the lessons learned from her struggles and her strength.
She was employed by Goodwill Industries as a sorter. Those who knew her best understood that her spirit, at times guarded or misunderstood, was a response to a life that required constant adaptation and self-reliance. Her journey was not easy, and the complexities of her character reflected the weight she carried each day. Joann found joy in caring for others and offering all the help she could. She was generous with her time and always gave to those in need. She enjoyed watching the westerns and old classic TV programs.
If she could share a message with her family now, it might be this: "Though I was not always able to show my love in the ways you hoped, know that every day, I did my best with what was given. My struggles sometimes built walls, but my heart always longed for connection. Remember me as I was— imperfect, resilient, and shaped by battles you may never fully see."
Joann was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Sadie Mae Rowland Price; sister, Cora Ann Browdy, two nieces, Sylvia D. Warner Chubb and Cora Ann Price Browdy; and brother-in-law, James Otis Warner
She leaves behind a legacy of perseverance and the enduring reminder that every life contains both hardship and hope. She will be missed, remembered, and, in time, understood. She leaves to mourn her loss, two sons, Fred and Floyd Swanson; two granddaughters, Marquita and Diamonique Swanson; two brothers, John Price and Wallace Caver, and a sister, Aljanette Warner. “May you find understanding and forgiveness, as I have found peace.”
Public viewing will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, followed immediately by the funeral service at noon in the chapel of John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga, 423 622-9995.
Interment will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery.