Jean Swearingen

Jean C. Swearingen

Jeannette Christine Cadwallader Swearingen, age 90, passed away in Shreveport, Louisiana on Saturday, May 5, 2012, and joined her husband and other loved ones in Heaven. Visitation will be on Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in the parlor of Broadmoor Baptist Church, 4110 Youree Drive, Shreveport, LA 71115. A funeral service praising God for Jean's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. in Broadmoor Memorial Chapel, with Dr. Tom Harrison and Dr. Scott Tatum officiating. Interment will follow at Centuries Memorial Park on Mansfield Road.

Jean was born to Carrie Kendall Cadwallader and Rev. Chester Sabin Cadwallader, Sr. on January 19, 1922, in Waco, Texas. In 1939, after graduating from high school in Dallas, Jean enrolled in Baylor University. That same year she met Lawson Lewis Swearingen, Sr. in German class and they were married on February 2, 1940.

Lawson served in the U.S. Army during World War II and during those years their three children were born. After the war the family made their home in Ruston, Louisiana. Jean worked with an abstracting firm while Lawson completed his studies at Louisiana Tech University. She became Chief Deputy for the Clerk of Court for Lincoln Parish and thoroughly enjoyed her twelve-year tenure. She became acquainted with countless people who appreciated her professional manner.

While in Ruston the Swearingens were faithful members of Temple Baptist Church. Jean and Lawson answered the Lord's call to lead the Young Adult Sunday School Department and with the Lord's guidance and their leadership, enrollment multiplied and they were mentors to many young couples. Jean was active in the Women's Missionary Union program and because her brother and his family were missionaries to Guatemala, mission outreach was dear to her.

Jean and Lawson moved to Boston, MA in the early 70's and Jean was quick to meet the neighbors and get busy in the kitchen baking and preparing meals for countless friends, visitors and colleagues of Lawson's. With Lawson, Jean was actively involved in service at Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA. She joined the Tuesday morning Bible study led by the pastor's wife, Gail MacDonald, and worked as a helpmate to Lawson when he served as Chairman of the New England Billy Graham Crusade in 1980.

After 10 years in Boston, Jean and Lawson returned to Louisiana, settling in Shreveport and became faithful members of Broadmoor Baptist Church. She was active in the Senior Adult Ministry and in her baking ministry to staff members celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, to mothers celebrating new life, and to families facing illness or death of a loved one. Jean was very conscious of, and responsive to, the needs of others. In recognition of this she was named Senior Adult Woman of 2003 and received the Faithfulness and Commitment Award from Broadmoor Baptist Church.

She dedicated her life to serving Christ by supporting her husband, family, friends and church and took a particular interest in praying for and ministering to pastors' wives, given her experience as a pastor's daughter. Throughout her life, Jean remained sensitive to God's presence and His response.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Lawson, who passed away in December, 2011, her parents Rev. Chester Sabin Cadwallader and Carrie Kendall Cadwallader, her brother Dr. Chester S. Cadwallader, Jr., sister-in-law, Dorothy Bell Cadwallader, nephew Chester Seth Cadwallader, III; her sister, Miriam (Mimi) Cadwallader Harris, brother-in-law, Clinton Lee Harris, and great-niece, LeeAnne Harris.

Jean is survived by her loving family; daughters, Carolyn Swearingen Cody and husband Rodger of Houston, TX; and Sharon Swearingen Tusa of Richmond, TX; son, Lawson L. Swearingen, Jr. and wife, Sharon of Fairhope, AL. Grandchildren, Dawn Hopkins, Julie Wilson, Anna Reppert and husband, Todd, Carrie Knowles and husband, Jeff, Lawson L. (Chip) Swearingen, III, Ashley Swearingen Day and husband, Will. She was loved by eleven beautiful great-grandchildren, Sophie, William and Mara Day; Meredith Hopkins, Andrew, Kendall and Courtney Reppert; Luke Wilson, and Lawson, Emma and Bryson Knowles. Also, numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Honoring Jean as pallbearers will be David Cadwallader, Ralph Cadwallader, Will Day, Bo Harris, Dr. Jeff Heitkamp, Jeff Knowles, Todd Reppert and Chip Swearingen. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Skip Buford, David Kohl and Tom Thompson.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Broadmoor Baptist Church Building Fund, 4110 Youree Drive, Shreveport, LA 71115; Gideons International, c/o Eastern Shore Gideons, P. O. Box 127, Fairhope, AL 36533; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Foundation, 3939 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70126 or a charity of your choice.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, known for her generosity and faithfulness, Jean (Memaw) Swearingen will be greatly missed.