Vina Swafford

Vina Cranfield Swafford, 89, of Birchwood, passed away Tuesday, January 19, 2010, in a Chattanooga hospital. She was born in the Grasshopper community on February 20, 1920, to the late Jake Albert Cranfield and Sarah Hixson Cranfield. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Carl F. Swafford, son, Charles Steven Swafford, and four siblings: Mae Davis, Bell Dover, Tom Cranfield and Fred Cranfield. Vina lived her entire life in the Grasshopper community. She was a member of the Grasshopper Church of God where she taught Sunday school, led the choir and practiced her faith diligently. She was a farmer, a gardener, a nurse, a loving and caring mother and a person of strong Christian faith. She is survived by two daughters: Wanda Giles (Larry), and Bernice Wilkerson and husband Ron Wilkerson; son, Rick Swafford and wife Charlotte Malone Swafford; special family member, Jerry Gillilan and wife Pat Gillilian; five grandsons, three granddaughters, thirteen great-grandchildren and four great great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 23, 2010, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with the Reverends Johnny Rapier, Joe Young and Kenneth Bell officiating. Interment will follow in Grasshopper Church of God Cemetery with Mitchell Swafford, Ryan Swafford, Steve Swafford, Doug Swafford, Barry Gibson, Ron (Bo) Wilkerson, Austin Gibson and Brandon Dabbs serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be granddaughters and great-granddaughters. The service will conclude with a white dove release ceremony. Her family will receive friends from 5 ? 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer?s Association, Mid South Chapter, 4205 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 216, Nashville TN 37215. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Swafford family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.