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Charleen Swansea Obituary
May 27, 1932 - August 23, 2018
Chapel Hill
Charleen Whisnant Swansea was a writer, poet, teacher, and film-star. She graduated from Meredith and received her MA from UNC-CH. She married her high school sweetheart, Murray Whisnant and raised two children, Ena and Tom. She was an author and publisher and created a "Poets in the Schools" program that became a national model. She is best known for six influential films made by Ross McElwee. She received the Fortner Writers Award and an Honorary PhD by St. Andrews Presbyterian College. Returning to Chapel Hill in 1994, she married and is survived by former Naval Officer, Mark Oldenburg. She is also survived by daughter, Ena Swansea and Son-in-Law Antoine Guerrero; son,Thomas Swansea Whisnant, and Daughter-in-Law Cyndi Whisnant; adopted daughter Frankie Mann; and grandchildren: Raven and Rex Whisnant, and Dylan Swansea Siegel. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:30pm on Saturday, Oct 20, 2018 at Advent Lutheran Church at 230 Erwin Road, Chapel Hill. Messages to the family will be received at [email protected] or on facebook.
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Memories and Condolences
for Charleen Swansea
Sponsored by Cremation Society of the Carolinas/Capital Funeral Home - Raleigh.
Bobbie Campbell
August 20, 2025
She was a piece of work and we had many laughs as we worked together on the Red Clay Reader series. this was one of the best jobs I ever had!
Katie Henderson
January 30, 2024
Good memories of Charlene, Jim, Murray, and Tom who interned with me when I was on the original staff of Discovery Place Science Museum in Charlotte.
Judy Bevan
October 3, 2018
Mark , so sorry to hear of your loss. Charlene was such a delightful person. I loved her humor and intellect. May God comfort you and Charlene's children at this difficult time.
Margie Brache
September 3, 2018
Tom,Ena and Mark you have a wrap around hug from me. The fabric she wove into our lives was wild and beautiful. Thank goodness she shared the earth with us and played so heartily.
I look forward to seeing you at the service.
Margie
K C
August 30, 2018
You have my sympathy for your loss. This is a difficult time for your family, but you can have comfort in God's promise of everlasting life on a paradise earth (Ps 37:29).
RK
August 30, 2018
Please accept my deepest and heartfelt condolences at this time of your loss. May the God who "binds up the brokenhearted" and "comforts all who mourn" sustain your family during this difficult time. Isaiah 61:1, 2
August 30, 2018
Our condolences to the family. May God fulfill his promise of binding up the brokenhearted. Isa 61:1.
Rita Simpson
August 29, 2018
Charleen was one of the most creative people I've ever known. Her zest for life sparkled and inspired so many people. May she rest in peace, and may God give comfort and strength to Tom, Ena, Murray, and all of her family.
Rita Simpson
Davidson, NC
Bobbie Campbell
August 27, 2018
Murray, Ena, Tom and all the rest. What a lovely obit that says it all for this person who was so important to me in my early life in Charlotte. I truly think I would be living a totally different life now (& not a good one) if I hadn't met Charleen and spent all of those rich years working with her. In addition to all the incredible things she did, she herself was a work of art and one of the funniest damn friends I've ever had.
Love to you all at this poignant time. Bobbie Campbell
My love to you all! kack
Kacky Hammon
August 26, 2018
Dear Family, My deepest sympathy to you and all your many friends who loved Charlene as much as I did. We miss her so much in our exercise class; I miss her as an across the street neighbor. I will miss her superb spirit and magnetism. My love and hugs are sent to you all! Kacky, her exercise coach.
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