Mary Elizabeth Swift

On Saturday, August 3, 2019 at St. Thomas Midtown Hospital, God, in his infinite wisdom, called Mary Elizabeth Swift home to her eternal rest. Mary Elizabeth was born on May 11, 1931 in Mason, TN to Willis and Lucy Mae Wilkerson. She was the first born of eight children.
Mary Elizabeth attended Gailor High School in Mason, TN, then transferred to Fayette County High School, in Somerville, TN where she graduated. She had the luxury of her father saddling up her horse every day for her journey to school where she carried her friends book satchels.
Mary Elizabeth accepted Christ at an early age. As a child, she attended Williamson Baptist Church in Mason, TN., under the leadership of Pastor W.E. Scott. Later in life, after moving to Illinois, she became a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Zion, IL., for over 30 years under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. B.J. Gaston where she has served as a Church Mother. Upon her retirement, she moved to Nashville, TN and became a member of Cleveland St. Missionary Baptist Church for 22 years, under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Donald Snead, where she has served as a Church Mother. Her gratefulness toward God for all HE has done was shown through her praise, her shouting and her dance!
Mary Elizabeth met the love of her life after graduating from High School, Frank Roland Swift. Shortly thereafter, they united in holy matrimony. From this union, Frank and Mary Elizabeth were blessed with six children, which included two sets of twins.
Mary Elizabeth started working at an early age and always had an incredibly strong work ethic. Her first job after High School was at Trojan Luggage in Memphis, TN. Years later, they moved from Racine, WI. to Zion, IL where she worked as a Line Supervisor for Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago, IL for 25 years before retiring in 1983.
Mary Elizabeth was small in stature but big in personality. She was quick witted and didn’t hesitate to tell you what was on her mind. She loved helping people that wanted to do better. She was a wealth of wisdom for anyone who desired to hear. She constantly preached three things: “Don’t over run the cup;” “Fence me off from people who are not doing me any good;” and “What is your record – meaning what’s your history– can I trust you?” To know Mary Elizabeth Swift, you must understand these three things. Don’t over run the cup has two sides: The first side of the cup was for you to save your money, build your credit, so you can have your own and not do the wrong things with your money-put your money in the right place so you don’t have to answer to anyone. The second side of the cup meant: when you overflow your cup that means you are living above your means. She learned these tools from her father and wanted to pass this wisdom down so that future generations could live abundantly.
Mary Elizabeth’s greatest loves were her family, her houses and her church. She bought her first house when she was 20 years old. She was an entrepreneur in her own right! Over the span of thirty years, she bought and sold more than a dozen of houses. She loved planting flowers, gardening and keeping her yard nicely manicured. She has always been very stylish, independent, kind-hearted, compassionate and very giving. Her personality was infectious, and everyone who knew her, loved her!
Mary Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Willis and Lucy Mae Wilkerson; husband, Frank Roland Swift; son, Ronnie Swift; granddaughter, September Swift; three brothers, Paul Dean Wilkerson; Willis Wilkerson, Jr. and Lloyd Wilkerson; and a great niece, Porscha LaKeyle Thomas.
Mary Elizabeth leaves to cherish her precious memories; two sons: Donnie (Donna) Swift, Racine, WI; Jasper Roy Swift, Racine, WI; three daughters: Glenda Joyce Swift-Duncan, Kenosha, WI; Porsha Ann Swift (David) Theus, LaVergne, TN and Connie Swift Turner (Michael) Nashville, TN; 15 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren and 18 great, great grandchildren (four generations); three sisters: Clarice (Albert) Whitmore, Mason, TN; Ivy Nell (Arthur) Cunningham, Arlington, TN and Silva Stine (Isadore) Haywood, Oak Park, MI; and one brother: Charles (Vernell) Wilkerson, Somerville, TN. In addition, she leaves a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Mary Elizabeth Swift will truly be missed!
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