John J. "Bill" McSwain

John Jackson “Bill” McSwain, Sr., 86, of Newberry, died Sunday, September 28, 2014, at Newberry County Memorial Hosptial.

Born on October 27, 1927, in Newberry, he was the son of the late Lucius Lee McSwain and Agnes Adams McSwain Wallace. He was the step-son of the late Haskell Neel Wallace. He was a graduate of Newberry High School and obtained a mortuary science degree in 1946 from the University of Minnesota. Mr. McSwain grew up in the family business, McSwain Funeral Home where he worked until 1964. He then served as manager of M.W. Bobo Funeral Chapel in Spartanburg from where he retired after 27 years. After relocating to Lake Murray he continued to work part-time at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home. A veteran, Mr. McSwain served 10 years in the Army National Guard where he obtained the rank of Sergeant 1 ^st Class.

He was a member of Aveleigh Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder. He formerly served on and was president of the South Carolina State Board of Funeral Service and was member and former president of the Developmental Disabilities Association of Spartanburg County. Mr. McSwain was a former member and president of the Spartanburg Sunrise Civitan Club and the Newberry Lions Club.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Julia Faye Boozer McSwain; a son Neel B. (Alice) McSwain of Marietta, GA; a daughter, Julia Rebecca McSwain of Charleston; a sister, Carrie McSwain Pritchard of Chapin; grandchildren, John M. (Megan) Reynolds III of Memphis, TN, James F. Reynolds of Portland, OR, Sarah A. McSwain of Atlanta, Erin R. McSwain and Anna B. McSwain both of Marietta, GA and great-grandchildren, Nolan McSwain Reynolds and Coralynn Kies Reynolds of Memphis, TN. In addition to his parents Mr. McSwain was predeceased by a son, John Jackson McSwain, Jr. and a daughter, Tracy Lee McSwain.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am Wednesday, October 1, 2014, at Aveleigh Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Dr. Mitchell VanMetre and Rev. Charles Dawkins. A private committal service will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Spartanburg. Visitation will be 5:30 – 7:30 pm Tuesday at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice or to Aveleigh Presbyterian Church, 1211 Calhoun Street, Newberry, SC 29108.

Active pallbearers will be the staff of McSwain-Evans Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank the devoted staff of Angel Care of Newberry for their kindness and devotion to their loved one.

A note of condolence or remembrance may be written to the family by clicking the "Add Comment" link below.