Obituary of John Griggs Swann, Jr.

Funeral services for John Griggs Swann, Jr., age 84, of Wedowee will be held on Friday, January 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM at Benefield Funeral Chapel. A private graveside ceremony for the family will be conducted immediately following at a private family cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, January 21, 2016. Mr. Swann passed away on Monday, January 18, 2016, at his residence. Survivors include: one daughter, Anne Swann Kimbrough (Roger) of Argo, Al; two sons, Stephen Boatner Swann (Brenda) of Geneva, Al and William Dobson Swann (Lavenia) of Wedowee; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; Pallbearers will be Ronnie Young, Ron Watters, Mike Edwards, Fred Johnson, Tim Milam, and Eric Kimbrough. Honorary pallbearers are his domino-playing buddies at Kountry Korner. Mr. Swann was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 1, 1931 to John Griggs Swann, Sr. and Myrtle Malphrus Swann. He was a decorated war veteran of the Korean War and an aerospace engineer who took part in the NASA space program at Cape Canaveral that put the first men on the moon. Mr. Swann returned to Wedowee in 1969 where he retired as owner of Wedowee Wholesale Florist. He also served as chairman of the Wedowee Utilities Board, was a longstanding member of the Alabama Republican Party, and a loyal supporter of his alma mater, Auburn University. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jane Carter Swann; and one grandchild.