Mr. Howard Samuel Swann, age 89, passed away on January 22, 2013 at Alive Hospice, St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville TN.  

Mr. Swann was born on April 3, 1923 in Soperton GA.  He received an Associate of Arts degree in Bible from Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, TN in 1963, and while a student there, preached for the Church of Christ in Enville, TN.  Mr. Swann dedicated his life to the teaching of the Word of God, working primarily to establish congregations of Churches of Christ in Georgia.  Moving to a city where there was no local congregation, he would begin his work by securing a meeting place, advertising the beginning of a new congregation and setting up Bible studies by canvassing neighborhoods.  Following this approach he and Mary were successful in establishing thriving congregation of Churches of Christ in Newnan, GA, Dallas, GA, Cochran, GA and Hazlehurst, GA.  After moving to Tennessee in 1996, Mr. Swann became an associate minister at the Woodbury Church of Christ, overseeing mission efforts in Southeastern TN and Georgia.  In addition to his life’s work in Georgia, Mr. Swann also served as minister for churches in Steens, MS and Boaz, AL.  In addition to these works, he participated in extended mission trips to Africa (Ghana), India, Jamaica and Guyana.  His lifelong love of the Word of God and his passion for teaching it to others has had immeasurable influence on the lives of many, many people.

Mr. Swann was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney Blackston and Lula Gay Swann; four brothers, Robert, Moody, Harry and Jack Swann, and two sisters, Golda Swann and Lillian Swann Love.

He is survived by his wife of seventy years, Mary Alice Hartsfield Swann; two daughters, Sandra (Louis) Butterfield  and Brenda (Larry) Griffith; seven grandchildren, Renee (Chris) Wells, Robyn Butterfield, Bryon (Geri) Griffith, Kimberly (Jason) Eddy, Ryan (Paula) Butterfield, Regina (Zach) Proffitt, and Alicia (Joshua) Douglas; and fifteen great-grandchildren, Jake, Luke, and Nick Wells; Coleman and Parker Proffitt; Mason and Riley Griffith; Hanna Holifield; Sam, Jack, Vivian and Max Butterfield; and Gavin, Brady and Amelia Douglas.

Funeral Services for Mr. Howard Samuel Swann will be held Friday, January 25, 2013 at 1:00 PM from the Chapel of Ronnie L. Stewart Funeral Service of Vidalia.  Interment will follow in Pinecrest Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the Funeral home on January 25, 2013 beginning at 11:00 AM until the hour of service.  

The family would like to give special thanks to the compassionate caregivers of Alive Hospice at St. Thomas and asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in Howards memory can be made to Sojourners (Georgia) at 5554 Cooks Road, Marshall, TX 75670-9130.

Ronnie L. Stewart Funeral Service of Vidalia is in charge of funeral arrangements.