Jerry Wayne Swindall

Jerry Wayne Swindall born on January 14, 1947 to two incredible parents George Earl and Ozella Swindall in Southside, AL. Jerry learned about hard work on the farm, looking out for others less fortunate, fishing, love for sports, and family comes first from the imprint his parents and siblings put on him from a young age. He loved all sports and I mean all of them. His love for sports was only trumped by the friendships he created. Frank Pierce, Tony McGlaughn, and Gary Hopper were some of the closest friends and had the funniest stories that were shared. Jerry also loved the military. He loved it so much he joined the Army twice and National Guard once. He served honorably for over 22 years. The adventures took the small-town Alabama boy all over the world. He visited 47 states and countries from Turkey to South Korea to all over Europe. But Jerry had a few special loves that never went away. (ballcards don't count) The first one was Family. Whether it was going fishing with nephews, doting on nieces, teaching his chosen(foster) children about discipline and ballcards, going to every family reunion when we lived within 7 hours, racing cars with his cousins(Billy Ray never rode with him again), admiring and imitating his big brothers-or causing them grief, beating his sisters at Rook--and you know he did, and loving his parents with memories so fond that you would have thought they never made a mistake, and did this all with humor and direct conversation that some did not know how to always take. But he loved the closest the hardest. The way he loved his grandchildren was gold. From beach trips to coaching them to telling them stories to most of all picking on them, he did this with all he had. His children knew they were loved so much. Jerry's kids(and yes, they are super special) all enjoyed his fishing trips he took them on and boy was he good--don't worry he would tell you, he loved coaching his kids on the field of sports and teaching life lessons off of the field to them as well. Walking his daughter Dawn down the aisle, spending vacations with his youngest-David- and listening to his Marvel movies previews and talking to his oldest about how to be a good leader and a better man--no sugarcoating at all he needed a lot of help. Jerry loved them all with all his heart. But his heart belonged to one special lady, his beautiful bride of 53 years Sherry Dutton from Collinsville. As he would tell anyone that would listen, he met his bride playing cards at college when the dean asked him to give a tour to a group of potential students and this one beauty wearing "hot pants" caught his attention. He was so smitten with Sherry Dutton; he called every Dutton in the phonebook until he got her cousin and was given a party line number for her. They married six months later on December 31, 1971, and the Jerry and Sherry show took their 53-year adventure across the Globe with their final stop in Lancaster, SC. Where they have been active members of 2nd Baptist Church of Lancaster and loyal members to their life group. Before landing in SC their adventures included living in Alabama, Kentucky. Virginia, Washington, and Germany to name a few visits The only thing he loved more than his wife was his love for Jesus. This would not have been even a guess when he was younger. But when the Lord really got a hold of him, Jerry could not let it go. He was a part of the choir at Immanuel Baptist Church and East Gadsden Baptist Church. He loved to sing at the nursing homes too. I think this was because they would never complain. Wherever Jerry went, he told everyone about Jesus--I am talking about gas stations, grocery stores, even restaurants--everyone was told about His Lord and Savior and what Jesus could do for them and then pray with them. Jerry taught his sons humility by always saying he was not good enough and could always be better but God's Grace is what he would point to. Thank you for your service to this country, loving your family, willing to take your shirt off your back for anyone but most of all, Thank you for a life well lived Jerry Swindall. You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept your faith. We all love you.
Jerry was predeceased by his parents George Earl and Ozella Swindall.and his chosen(foster) son Jason(Megan) Calloway
His is survived by his wife Sherry Dutton Swindall, his children Stephanie Dawn Garner (Rick), Gregory Mark Swindall (Elizabeth), and David Wayne (Gloria) Swindall, his chosen(foster) chidren Chris(Sabrina) Calloway and Glenda Calloway and their 7 children, his sisters Kay Samples and Brenda McGehee, his brothers Ed Swindall and Bud (Barbara) Swindall his grandchildren Kadence, Virginia, Katelynn, Gage and Chloe.
The memorial service in Lancaster, South Carolina will be held at 330 PM this Thursday, June 26th at Second Baptist Church. His funeral services will be held at the Glencoe-Hokes Bluff funeral home. The viewing will be held at 2 on Sunday, June 29th followed by the service at 3pm then a graveside service for the family afterwards at Williams-Southside Memorial Gardens.
Online condolences may be left to the family at:
ghbfuneralhome.com.
Glencoe Hokes Bluff Funeral Home
"Our Family Serving Your Family"