J Celebration ofJfife for
general floe Swain

Sunrise March 9, 1929

Sunset April 5, 2009

Saturday, April 11, 2 0 0 9 1:00 P.M.
Belle-Terrace Presbyterian Church
2 4 5 4 Golden Camp Road Augusta, Georgia
Reverend Melvin Lowry, Presiding

O bitu ary
Retired Staff Sergeant General Joe Swain at the age of 80, passed away, Sunday, April 5, 2009 at Doctors Hospital. He was a native of Talladega Alabama. He was born to the late Reverend John R. and Maggie Swain. At an early age General was baptized at Jacob Chapel CME in Talladega, Alabama. He entered the United States Army in 1950 and retired with twenty-two years of honorable service on October 31, 1972 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was united in holy matrimony to his lovely wife Bettye Abrams Swain on September 22, 1959.
"God Almighty blessed thee, and make theefruitful and multiply thee. * Genesis 28:3. And unto them Paul, Paula, and Joe was born. They became further blessed with four grandchildren. He was preceded in death, by Paul X. Swain, of Savannah, Georgia, his oldest son and father of one child.
General Joe Swain is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Bettye A. Abrams Swain. A daughter, Paula Ward (Cyrus), currently living in Fort Lewis, Washington. A son, Joseph Swain (Peggy), currently living in Dallas, Texas. Four grandchildren, Joseph Porter Demetreo Swain and Justice Rose Swain both of Dallas, Texas. Paul Cyrus Ward, and Cierra Viola Ward both of Fort Lewis, Washington. One brother, Robert Swain of Talladega, Alabama. Two sisters, Goldie Embrey of Los Angeles, California and Maggie Welch o f Cleveland, Ohio, a host o f loving sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Celebration Service
Reverend Melvin Lowry, Pastor, Presiding

Processional

Opening Hymn .."What A Friend We Have In Jesus" .. Choir

Prayer ................................................ Reverend Melvin Lowry

Scriptures

Old Testament ........................ Reverend Leamon O 'Neal, Jr. Psalm 23

New Testament .......................................... Raymond Huntley I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Selection ...........................................Choir and Congregation

Reflections (Three minutes please) As a Neighbor .........................................Calvin Holland, Sr. As a Family member ........................................Amos Watters As a F riend...........................................................Paul Burris

Obituary (please read silently).............. "Sweet, Sweet Spirit"

Acknowledgements ...............................................Janice Lewis

Solo ................................................................Roberta Thomas

Words of Comfort .

wnm d Melvin Lowry

Belle-Terrace Presbyterian Chi^rch (U.S.A.), Augusta, Georgia

Recessional

./..^^ (Z ^ p /Y o n d er"

Interm ent...........................................Hillcrest Memorial Park

Repast Belle-Terrace Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Fellowship Hall

Zo Our father
Forever and a day, this is what we think A s we travel along life's way. B u t now our circle is broken For God has claimed H is own.
A n d we thank H im fo r loving memories, that will keep usfrom being alone. In God's care we leave you. Paula and Joe
A family and friends Zribute
A ll o f the good things we remember living the life o f someone special,
extraordinary person that you were ex-a ctly what we were looking for.
Appreciative and caring o f others, never avoiding those in need, dealing with life as it comes,
involving yourself in others' concerns, reminiscing in a ll o f life's pleasures.
We Love Tou, Joe

Active Pallbearers
US Army Ceremonial Detail
Honorary Pallbearers
Nobles of Stolkin Temple #22

When

JMust\/ou

When I must leave you f o r a little while

please ^ o do not grie ve and shed w ild tears

and hug ou r sorrow to you through the years.

B u t start out bravely with a g a lla n t smile;

and f o r my sake and in my name

live on and do a ll things the same.
, Feed not your loneliness on empty days

B u t f i l l each w aking hour, in useful ways.

Reach ou t your hand in com fort and in cheer

A n d I in tu rn w ill com fort you and hold you

near and never, never be a fra id to die,

f o r I am w a itin g f o r you in the sky!

Acknowledgements
The family o f the late Joe Swain wishes to acknowledge with profound gratitude all acts of kindness shown during their time of bereavement. May God bless each o f you.
* I n lieu o f flowers, thefa m ily is requesting tha t donations be made to the Belle-Terrace Presbyterian Church ( U .S .A .) C a p ita l Im provem ent Fund, in Joe Sw ain's name, 2454 Golden Camp Road, Augusta, Georgia 30906

W. H. Mays M ortuary
"Professional Service A Family Tradition Since 1922"
1221 James Brown Boulevard Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 722-6401