Barbara Brown Swords

1942 - 2025

Ms. Barbara Ann Brown Swords, 83, died Sunday, October 5, 2025 at Traceway Manor in Tupelo. She was born March 10, 1942 in Pontotoc Co., MS, one of 5 children born to the marital union of Murdus and Ophelia Faulkner Brown. She was a graduate of Pontotoc High School and attended 2 years at Itawamba Junior College. She lived much of her life in Pontotoc but resided many years in Tupelo. She attended Mildred's Beauty School in Pontotoc while working at a radio station to pay her way, and earned her Cosmetology license which led to a 40 year career as a hairdresser owning Barbara's Beauty Shop. She was a longtime member of Longview Baptist Church. Barbara had many hobbies to include President of the Tupelo Chapter of the Soroptimist International Club, Creator and founder of The Fairest of the Fair Beauty Pageant, a long running pageant during the Miss.-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. She served as a Judge for the preliminaries to the Miss America Pageant for over 20 years, loved horses of all breeds, showing Racking Horses and Tennessee Walking Horses. She served as a longtime member of the Elvis Presley Fan Club and attended many events with her best friend, Kay Bain. She loved entertaining, and was very fond of her animals.

A celebration of life service will be at 11 AM, Thursday, October 9, 2025 in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo, with Bro. Terry Faulkner officiating. Private burial will follow at Longview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 AM to service time Thursday only. Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo is honored to be serving their friends.

Survivors include her daughter, Allyson Mitchell (David) of Corinth; brother, Ross Brown (Starr) of Pontotoc; 2 sisters, Claudia Jackson (Jimmy) and Carolyn Mason, both of Tupelo; grandchildren Grady Mitchell, Jessy Mitchell, Bo Mitchell, Vanessa Bullard and Tommy Clayton; her best friend, Kay Bain as well as many other friends. She was preceded in death by her Parents; her late husband Jerald Swords; daughter, Annalyn Clayton Dunn and a grandchild, Christopher Clayton. Pallbearers will be David Mitchell, Grady Mitchell, Bo Mitchell, Reggie Haynes, Earl Rogers and Brent Smith. Honorary pallbearer will be her best friend, Kay Bain.

Condolences to the family may be posted at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Barbara Swords. Memorials may be sent to the Tupelo - Lee Humane Society, P.O. Box 2143, Tupelo, MS 38802. Those who cannot attend may view the service at 11 AM, Thursday or anytime thereafter at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/livestreaming.