Beverly Joyce Swafford

Beverly Joyce Swafford

July 2, 1951 – September 3, 2021

Beverly was born July 2, 1951, at St. Helena, California, and passed from this life on September 3 from a deadly bout with Covid – 19. In those 70 years she crossed paths with many family and friends as a wife, mother, nurse, and business woman.

She was the daughter of Dr. Cyril F. Dean (d. 1998) and Norma Jean Hubbell Dean (d. 2021), of Chattanooga, TN. The family moved to Collegedale, TN, in 1962, where her father was a professor of Physical Education at Southern Missionary College. While attending Collegedale Academy she was introduced to Carl Swafford, her future husband. High school sweethearts, the couple started dating February 14, 1968 and were married five years later on May 11, 1973. Beverly had finished her A.S. degree in Nursing at Southern Missionary College and Carl was set to return and finish his degree in the fall. Since the couple didn’t have a house, and Beverly was waiting for results from her nursing boards, they decided to take an extended honeymoon. Three and half months later they returned to Collegedale. Beverly started work at Parkridge Hospital and Carl returned to finish his degree. It was the best trip ever and a great way to start a marriage.

This was the start of a life of travel and camping and spending time in nature. Because Carl was a teacher they had summers free to travel. It was not unusual for them to drive 5000 miles in the summer touring 49 states, Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico.

In 1974 Carl was called to teach Biology in Knoxville, Tennessee. Beverly worked as a night nurse at Park West hospital. On her days off she would help at the school with picnics and special events. Once she served as a substitute teacher in first grade. In 1977 they returned to Collegedale. There they welcomed two sons Christopher and Corbin. Beverly decided to pause from nursing and be with the boys until they started school.

Beverly loved animals. Throughout her adult life she kept horses, sheep, goats, dogs, cats and other furry friends. A friend gave her a pair of canaries. From that pair she started a hobby of raising cage birds. Eventually her flock grew to 2500 birds in their basement with over 36 different species. Beverly entered her Canaries in shows around the eastern United States. She organized the first Cage Bird Show in Chattanooga and supplied 18 pet stores in the tri-state area with the young birds that she raised.

Once the boys started school, Beverly returned to nursing at Park Ridge Hospital in Chattanooga. There she worked on the orthopedic floor, GI Lab and finished in Day Surgery. She loved working with patients. And the patients loved her. She always took time to listen and share with therm.

In 2007 her first granddaughter was born. Beverly worked part time at the hospital and cared for the baby on her days off. In 2011 Beverly went into property management with her son Corbin. She continued to work part time at the hospital and take on the duties of property manager. In 2013 she retired from nursing and worked full time with her son. Community service was part of her daily life. The people loved her and she loved them. For Christmas and holidays she did special community activities and provided meals for those in need.

Her hobbies included reading, horses, koi fish, and searching for Christmas items and antiques. She loved decorating for holidays, especially Christmas. Her house was also filled with beautiful violets. On her 10 acre rural property near McDonald, TN, the grandchildren could fish in their two acre pond or enjoy her outdoor koi pond with dozens of colorful Japanese fish.

Despite the responsibility for her mother in convalescent care and her sister Shirley, Beverly always had time for family and friends, especially her grandchildren. She loved Indian food especially and feasting with her family and friends.

The Swafford’s are longtime members of the Collegedale Seventh day Adventist church, and Beverly went to her rest to wait for the second coming of Jesus Christ, her Savior.

Beverly is survived by her husband of 48 years Dr. Carl Swafford, former Dean of Graduate Studies at Southern Adventist University; Christopher, an educator, and wife Jodie, a nurse, live in Cooranbong, NSW, Australia. They have two children, Sadie and Jackson; Corbin, a property manager, and his wife Julie, a physical therapist, live in Yucaipa, California and have two children, Ryder and Sophie.

Please join the family and friends for a celebration of Beverly’s life.

Online Celebration of Life Service -  December 12, 2021 - 5:00 pm 

The Online Celebration of Life Service can be viewed at:

https://apisonchurch.org/live/