Gail Simpson Swafford was born Dec. 2, 1957, in Florence, Alabama. She was educated in the Florence school system graduating from Bradshaw High School in 1976. After graduation, Gail enrolled in the nursing program at Northwest Shoals College to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). After she successfully passed the nursing board exam, Gail was hired by the Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital, where she worked as a LPN from April 1981 to June 2007 in ICU, Recovery, and later on the Second West Unit.
Gail accepted Christ at an early age at Greater St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church. She was an active member at Greater St. Paul AME Church, serving in the Golden Voices Choir, on the Eudemonic Usher Board, Young Women Stewardess Board, as a church school teacher, and as a member of the Women’s Missionary Society, serving as the young people’s division (YPD) director. Under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Percy Jones, Gail was appointed Co-Christian Education Director with a young man named Raymond Bernard Swafford, who had recently moved to Florence, Alabama from Evanston, Illinois to work for the Tennessee Valley Authority. This relationship led to a courtship which resulted in Gail and Raymond being united in holy matrimony on June 22, 1985, under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Willis N. Huggins Sr.
Gail was not only active in the local AME church but also on the conference level as well. She served eight years as the Lila Barnett area YPD director. Gail also loved singing for every annual conference during the ordination service in the Ministers Spouses/Widows and PKs Choir which was organized under Mother Carrie R. Grady.
Gail was an avid collector of the “All God’s Children’s”? sculptures. Everyone knew whether it was a birthday, Mother’s day, Christmas, anniversary, or Valentine’s day, Gail wanted an “All God’s Children” collectable. She endeavored to contact all the collectors of “All God’s Children” in the Shoals area, and she went on to organize the Shoals area’s??”All God’s Children” Local Chapter. She served as the president, her husband, Raymond, as the vice president, and Mr. Eric Westfield along with his wife, Diahnne, as treasurers. This group would travel to the “All God’s Children”?reunion held annually during the summer months, in Gadsden, Alabama, where collectors from California to New York, would gather to swap and sell their collectable pieces.
Gail departed this life early Friday morning, March 13, 2015.
Gail Simpson Swafford leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Reverend Raymond Swafford; three sons, Cori, Jason, and Travis Swafford; her mother, Mildred Minor; granddaughters, Khia Swafford, Amya Swafford, and Nalaya Swafford; grandsons, Jacori Swafford; her brother, Samuel C. Simpson; devoted cousins, Sara Frances Smith, and her granddaughter, Chynna Boddie Westbrook; nieces, Brittany Simpson, Deanna Simpson, and Maisha Robinson; sister-in-law, Janis Robinson (Chicago, Illinois); grandnephew, Markhel Davis; cousins, Patrice Brooks and her husband, Reggie Brooks, Dwight Smith, Aftan Boddie, Whitney Boddie, and Steadman Boddie; best friends, Gail Hunter, Sallie Hunter Lewis, Ida Tyree Hyche, Ira Cummings, and Phylis Hagler; and a host of relatives and friends.
Visitation with the family will be today, 6-7 p.m., at Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Florence, Alabama.
The funeral service for Mrs. Swafford will be
11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2015, at
Greater St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, Florence, Alabama, with the
Rev. Alvelyn Sanders, officiating.
Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Florence, Alabama.
Public viewing will be today, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at
Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Florence.
Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Florence, is directing.
