Edith Swayze Meeks went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 22, 2023.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. James Everette Meeks, Jr. “Buddy”, of 70 years, and her four children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Edith was the wonderful mother of Edith Rebecca Meeks, Judith Swayze Meeks Keenum (Andy), Mimi Meeks Flippo (Larry), all of Florence, and James Everette Meeks, III (Leslie) of Germantown, TN. She was the grandmother extraordinaire to Laura Layton McDonald (Morgan), James Swayze Layton, Nathan Flippo, Grace, Caden, and Luke Meeks, and great-granddaughters, Harper and Lilly Layton; brother, Martin Swayze of Arlington, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank Vickie Dickerson who was Edith’s loving caregiver for the last 20 months.
Edith was born on December 30, 1931 to Lucile Rogers and Martin Walter Swayze in Corinth, MS. She grew up in Corinth and graduated from Corinth High School in May of 1950 where she was honored as “Miss Corinth High School.”
She attended Mississippi State College for Women (MSCW) where she was a member of Lockhearts and Hottentots. Edith transferred to Ole Miss where she pledged Chi Omega Sorority. She moved to Memphis, TN after marrying James Everette Meeks, Jr. on March 7, 1953. He joined the US Air Force Dental Corp and they were transferred to Ladd Air Force Base Hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska, where they lived for two years. Then they moved to Florence, Alabama in October of 1957.
Edith was active in many civic groups including serving on the original board of the YMCA and in the Muscle Shoals District Service League (now the Junior League), the Florence Music Study Club, and Les Bonne Vivante Gourmet Club. She served as President of Kilby PTA where she founded the Children’s Theatre and established monthly performances, and initiated bringing award winning children’s book authors and illustrators to speak, as well as to engage with Kilby students. She was a member of the Muscle Shoals Dental Auxiliary and an inaugural member of Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club.
Edith was the organist for First Christian Church for several years, played a key role in launching Community Bible Study in Florence, was a co-founder of Yokefellow (a local ministry), was co-chairman of Camp Farthest Out (CFO), and was a member of Christian Women’s Club. She was an active member of Grace House Church in Florence for many years.
A graveside memorial service was held on Monday, July 24th, 2023 in Greenview Memorial Park with Dr. Gary Cosby officiating and Ernie Fite providing the music.
Pallbearers were Larry Flippo, Andy Keenum, Swayze Layton, and Morgan McDonald.
Honorary pallbearers were Nathan Flippo, Dr. Julian B. Hill, Ronnie Jones, Gary Jester, Pat Lamar, Doc Shell, Eddie Lawrence, Bill Butler, Don Emerson, Larry Bullard, and David Clark.
