Joy Lee Swofford, 80, died Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at her home in Lexington, KY, approximately 4 1/2 years after being diagnosed with primary peritoneal cancer. Her enthusiasm for life and cheerful optimism allowed her to survive far longer than is typical for victims of her disease, and she maintained lively social, family, and service activities until the last weeks of her vibrant life. Her fellow bridge players, allies and opponents in political discussions, and beneficiaries of her encyclopedic knowledge of good eating spots around the U.S. will all miss her greatly, as will the many others who have had their lives enriched by knowing her. As anyone who has ever experienced her contagious laughter knows, it is rare for a name to fit a person as appropriately as did the name "Joy."
She was born in Richmond, KY to the late Harvey and Hattie Moores Lee. With the help of her mother and her aunt Lucille Moores Webb, she rose from a poor childhood during the Great Depression to become valedictorian of her senior class at Madison High School. After obtaining her bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University in mathematics and music, she taught at Madison Elementary School, Bryan Station Jr. High, EKU, the University of Kentucky, and Transylvania University. A longtime member of the American Guild of Organists, she served as organist for a number of churches in Richmond, Midway, and Lexington, including Hunter Presbyterian Church where she had been a member for over twenty years.
She was devoted throughout her life to her loving husband of 57 years, O. Morris Swofford, who survives her along with her brother, Charles (Billie) Lee, of Lexington; her two daughters Ann (John) Cranfill, of Lexington, and Morrissa (Jeff) Hayes, of Mt. Vernon, KY; and her son David, of Durham, NC, as well as her sister-in-law, Martha Swofford McDavitt of Elizabethtown, KY. She was also an active and valued participant in the lives of her three grandchildren, Scott (Avila), Meredith, and Ryan Cranfill. She was preceded in death by four brothers: H.G., Carl, Virgil, and Robert (Buddy) Lee.
Funeral services will be held at Hunter Presbyterian Church (109 Rosemont Garden, Lexington, KY 40503) at 1:30 P.M. on Friday, September 24, conducted by Jason Santalucia and Lawrence Durr, followed by entombment at the Lexington Cemetery. Friends may visit at Milward-Southland (391 Southland Dr., Lexington), on Thursday, September 23 from 5:00-8:00 P.M.
Joy accumulated so many close friends during her life that her family has declared all of those who loved and supported her throughout the years as honorary pallbearers, and is confident that you will know who you are. Memorial gifts may be made to Hunter Presbyterian Church, Hospice of the Bluegrass (2312 Alexandria Drive, Lexington KY 40504), or the Markey Cancer Center (800 Rose St., Lexington, KY 40536).
Services will be held at:
Hunter Presbyterian Church
109 Rosemont Garden
Lexington, KY 40503
Map/Directions
Service scheduled for Friday, September 24, 2010
Send a condolence to the family of Joy Lee Swofford
She was born in Richmond, KY to the late Harvey and Hattie Moores Lee. With the help of her mother and her aunt Lucille Moores Webb, she rose from a poor childhood during the Great Depression to become valedictorian of her senior class at Madison High School. After obtaining her bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University in mathematics and music, she taught at Madison Elementary School, Bryan Station Jr. High, EKU, the University of Kentucky, and Transylvania University. A longtime member of the American Guild of Organists, she served as organist for a number of churches in Richmond, Midway, and Lexington, including Hunter Presbyterian Church where she had been a member for over twenty years.
She was devoted throughout her life to her loving husband of 57 years, O. Morris Swofford, who survives her along with her brother, Charles (Billie) Lee, of Lexington; her two daughters Ann (John) Cranfill, of Lexington, and Morrissa (Jeff) Hayes, of Mt. Vernon, KY; and her son David, of Durham, NC, as well as her sister-in-law, Martha Swofford McDavitt of Elizabethtown, KY. She was also an active and valued participant in the lives of her three grandchildren, Scott (Avila), Meredith, and Ryan Cranfill. She was preceded in death by four brothers: H.G., Carl, Virgil, and Robert (Buddy) Lee.
Funeral services will be held at Hunter Presbyterian Church (109 Rosemont Garden, Lexington, KY 40503) at 1:30 P.M. on Friday, September 24, conducted by Jason Santalucia and Lawrence Durr, followed by entombment at the Lexington Cemetery. Friends may visit at Milward-Southland (391 Southland Dr., Lexington), on Thursday, September 23 from 5:00-8:00 P.M.
Joy accumulated so many close friends during her life that her family has declared all of those who loved and supported her throughout the years as honorary pallbearers, and is confident that you will know who you are. Memorial gifts may be made to Hunter Presbyterian Church, Hospice of the Bluegrass (2312 Alexandria Drive, Lexington KY 40504), or the Markey Cancer Center (800 Rose St., Lexington, KY 40536).
Services will be held at:
Hunter Presbyterian Church
109 Rosemont Garden
Lexington, KY 40503
Map/Directions
Service scheduled for Friday, September 24, 2010
Send a condolence to the family of Joy Lee Swofford
Joy Lee Swofford, 80, died Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at her home in Lexington, KY, approximately 4 1/2 years after being diagnosed with primary peritoneal cancer. Her enthusiasm for life and cheerful optimism allowed her to survive far longer than is typical for victims of her disease, and she maintained lively social, family, and service activities until the last weeks of her vibrant life. Her fellow bridge players, allies and opponents in political discussions, and beneficiaries of her encyclopedic knowledge of good eating spots around the U.S. will all miss her greatly, as will the many others who have had their lives enriched by knowing her. As anyone who has ever experienced her contagious laughter knows, it is rare for a name to fit a person as appropriately as did the name "Joy."
She was born in Richmond, KY to the late Harvey and Hattie Moores Lee. With the help of her mother and her aunt Lucille Moores Webb, she rose from a poor childhood during the Great Depression to become valedictorian of her senior class at Madison High School. After obtaining her bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University in mathematics and music, she taught at Madison Elementary School, Bryan Station Jr. High, EKU, the University of Kentucky, and Transylvania University. A longtime member of the American Guild of Organists, she served as organist for a number of churches in Richmond, Midway, and Lexington, including Hunter Presbyterian Church where she had been a member for over twenty years.
She was devoted throughout her life to her loving husband of 57 years, O. Morris Swofford, who survives her along with her brother, Charles (Billie) Lee, of Lexington; her two daughters Ann (John) Cranfill, of Lexington, and Morrissa (Jeff) Hayes, of Mt. Vernon, KY; and her son David, of Durham, NC, as well as her sister-in-law, Martha Swofford McDavitt of Elizabethtown, KY. She was also an active and valued participant in the lives of her three grandchildren, Scott (Avila), Meredith, and Ryan Cranfill. She was preceded in death by four brothers: H.G., Carl, Virgil, and Robert (Buddy) Lee.
Funeral services will be held at Hunter Presbyterian Church (109 Rosemont Garden, Lexington, KY 40503) at 1:30 P.M. on Friday, September 24, conducted by Jason Santalucia and Lawrence Durr, followed by entombment at the Lexington Cemetery. Friends may visit at Milward-Southland (391 Southland Dr., Lexington), on Thursday, September 23 from 5:00-8:00 P.M.
Joy accumulated so many close friends during her life that her family has declared all of those who loved and supported her throughout the years as honorary pallbearers, and is confident that you will know who you are. Memorial gifts may be made to Hunter Presbyterian Church, Hospice of the Bluegrass (2312 Alexandria Drive, Lexington KY 40504), or the Markey Cancer Center (800 Rose St., Lexington, KY 40536).
Services will be held at:
Hunter Presbyterian Church
109 Rosemont Garden
Lexington, KY 40503
Map/Directions
Service scheduled for Friday, September 24, 2010
Send a condolence to the family of Joy Lee Swofford
She was born in Richmond, KY to the late Harvey and Hattie Moores Lee. With the help of her mother and her aunt Lucille Moores Webb, she rose from a poor childhood during the Great Depression to become valedictorian of her senior class at Madison High School. After obtaining her bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University in mathematics and music, she taught at Madison Elementary School, Bryan Station Jr. High, EKU, the University of Kentucky, and Transylvania University. A longtime member of the American Guild of Organists, she served as organist for a number of churches in Richmond, Midway, and Lexington, including Hunter Presbyterian Church where she had been a member for over twenty years.
She was devoted throughout her life to her loving husband of 57 years, O. Morris Swofford, who survives her along with her brother, Charles (Billie) Lee, of Lexington; her two daughters Ann (John) Cranfill, of Lexington, and Morrissa (Jeff) Hayes, of Mt. Vernon, KY; and her son David, of Durham, NC, as well as her sister-in-law, Martha Swofford McDavitt of Elizabethtown, KY. She was also an active and valued participant in the lives of her three grandchildren, Scott (Avila), Meredith, and Ryan Cranfill. She was preceded in death by four brothers: H.G., Carl, Virgil, and Robert (Buddy) Lee.
Funeral services will be held at Hunter Presbyterian Church (109 Rosemont Garden, Lexington, KY 40503) at 1:30 P.M. on Friday, September 24, conducted by Jason Santalucia and Lawrence Durr, followed by entombment at the Lexington Cemetery. Friends may visit at Milward-Southland (391 Southland Dr., Lexington), on Thursday, September 23 from 5:00-8:00 P.M.
Joy accumulated so many close friends during her life that her family has declared all of those who loved and supported her throughout the years as honorary pallbearers, and is confident that you will know who you are. Memorial gifts may be made to Hunter Presbyterian Church, Hospice of the Bluegrass (2312 Alexandria Drive, Lexington KY 40504), or the Markey Cancer Center (800 Rose St., Lexington, KY 40536).
Services will be held at:
Hunter Presbyterian Church
109 Rosemont Garden
Lexington, KY 40503
Map/Directions
Service scheduled for Friday, September 24, 2010
Send a condolence to the family of Joy Lee Swofford
Inscription
SWOFFORD
Joy Lee
1930 - 2020
