James “Jimmy” Alton Swinford

Funeral service for Mr. James “Jimmy” Alton Swinford, age 83, of Fayetteville, TN will be conducted at 2 PM on Sunday, November 10, 2019, at Parks City Baptist Church with Bro. Don Russell officiating. Burial will follow in Higgins Cedar Hills Memorial Gardens. Mr. Swinford passed away on November 4, 2019 at Huntsville Hospital.

Jimmy was born on January 1, 1936 in Belleville, TN to the late Hugh Patrick and Madie Ruth Shields Swinford. He served in the United States air force and was stationed at Scott Air Force Base, IL and in New York. He worked for and retired from Chrysler as a technician. He manufactured and installed electronic testers for automotive plants in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Mr. Swinford was a member of Parks City Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, church sign committee member/founder, Sunday school teacher, RA leader, usher, past maintenance and brotherhood director and married his wife 62 years ago, Eveline Moyers Swinford. He visited the sick and shut-ins every Tuesday he was able to for the past 25 years with his beloved pastor, Bro. Don Russell.

Jimmy enjoyed farming raising Red Pole cattle, peacocks (especially “Buddy”), donkey (“Donk”), pigs, chickens, and goats. He loved driving his Massey Ferguson tractor for many years and later his Mahindra tractor and going to auctions on Saturdays. He made many friends producing hay for his livestock. Jimmy’s favorite pet and companion was his dog, Stormy.

He attended and enjoyed his grandsons’ MTSU graduations. He proudly attended Caleb’s UT Memphis Doctorate graduation in May and was equally proud of Ethan’s acceptance to UAB’s Nurse Practitioner program. He fondly called them his “doctors”.

Jimmy enjoyed celebrating his “New Year’s Day” birthday with his extended family for over 50 years.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Eveline Moyers Swinford; daughter, Donna (Michael) Gulley; grandsons, Caleb (Rachel) Gulley of Lebanon, TN and Ethan (Savannah) Gulley of Murfreesboro, TN; brother, Larry (Billie) Swinford of Fayetteville, TN; sister, Patricia (Sam) Brewton of Fayetteville, TN; several nieces and nephews; and beloved dog, Stormy.

Visitation with the family will be held at 5 PM until 8 PM on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at Higgins Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Parks City Baptist Church Building Fund, 2809 Huntsville Hwy, Fayetteville, TN 37334. Higgins Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Mr. James Alton Swinford.