Mary Eloise Perkinson Swann

Mary Perkinson (Eloise) Swann, age 88, of Mount Airy, North Carolina, passed away at Ridgecrest Retirement Community in Mount Airy, on March 9th, 2017 following an extended illness and is now peacefully and joyfully at rest with the Lord. Mrs. Swann was born in Chesterfield County, Virginia on October 1, 1928, to the late Claiborne F. Perkinson and Mary F. Blankenship Perkinson. Eloise was the youngest of 13 children. She graduated from Petersburg High School. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Elmer T. Swann, Jr. Mrs. Swann lived in many different locations as she and Elmer began their family. Hampton Roads, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Memphis, Tennessee; Jacksonville, Florida; Brandon, Florida; Lady Lake, Florida; Pinnacle, North Carolina and Mount Airy, North Carolina. Eloise was employed for 20+ years and retired from the U.S. Federal Government – the Centers for Disease Control and Occupational Safety and Health were her most rewarding positions. She was a member of many Baptist churches throughout her life and a member of Haymore Memorial Baptist Church in Mount Airy from 2006 until her death. Eloise was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother. Mrs. Swann was a “giver” of her time and resources to many always helping out others. She was blessed with the gift of hospitality and used that gift throughout the years making close friends wherever she lived. She turned all the negatives in life into positives and was a vibrant story-teller. She is survived by two sons and daughters in-law; David Randolph Swann and Joy Drake Swann of Dobson, North Carolina, Scott Thompkins Swann and Janet Peterson Swann of Holly Springs, North Carolina; three grandchildren, Nathan Randolph Swann of Sherman Oaks, California, Jeremy Scott Swann and Stephen John Swann both of Holly Springs, North Carolina; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bernard and Barbara Swann of Richmond, Virginia; caring nephews and nieces, Jeanenne Billings, Dr. A. Wright Pond, Sterling Cummins, Amanda Wells, Larry Halloway, Becky Peirce, Gary Perkinson, Mary Ellen Perkinson, Lynette Engle, Jacquelyn Kreji, Timmy Sue Ott, Cathy Vacek, Kim Vaiden, Beth Huffman, Anne Johnson, Janet Swann Shook, and a host of grand-nephews and nieces, and great-grand nephews and nieces. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, George, Orbie Keeler, Carlton, Jack, and Lawrence Perkinson; sisters, Magdalene Mann, Janie Pond, Annie Perkinson, Virginia Halloway and Catherine Vaiden. The "Celebration of her Life" will be conducted by the Rev. Robert McCrary at Haymore Memorial Baptist Church in Mount Airy on Sunday, March 12, 2017 at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends at Haymore Memorial Baptist Church, Mount Airy, on Sunday from 1:00 – 2:00 PM. Her body will lie in state in the sanctuary 30-minutes prior to the service. A second service will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 in the chapel of J. T. Morris and Son Funeral Home in Petersburg, Virginia at 12 noon with Rev. Cory Honeycutt officiating, with her burial immediately following at Southlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Petersburg, Virginia. The family will receive friends at J. T. Morris Funeral Home on Tuesday from 11:00 until 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Haymore Memorial Baptist Church Mission Fund, P. O. Box 27, Mount Airy, NC 27030, or Mountain Valley Hospice, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030. A special thank you from the family of Eloise Swann to the many staff and caregivers at Ridgecrest Retirement Community and Live Long Well Care for the love and care she received over the past four years. Eloise’s family is also grateful for the care provided by Northern Surry Hospital, Mountain Valley Hospice and her many medical specialists that helped her live a full and blessed life for many years. Moody Funeral Service of Mount Airy is serving the Swann family.

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