Hugh's News & Commentary

Jessica Swails Smith (grand-daughter, daughter of John W. Swails III)

The only way I can get up here and do this is because I know that I am looking at an auditorium full of people that feel the same way I do. We feel the pain of losing Papa, and the honor of having had the chance to know him. The world won't ever be the same.

When my Grandma died and I missed her so bad, I prayed and prayed, and one day God said,"Don't worry about your Grandma, she's happy here."  I knew that was true, and it's true for Papa. Though my heart aches and my desire is to have him here, I know he is happy with his God. The God who he cried out to at night and prayed to every morning.

I'll carry my memories of Papa with me. Memories of him reading in the living room, in the swing, in the study, reading to grandma whether she wanted him to or not. Memories of him playing with the change in his pocket, so we always knew where he was. How he always reminded me to check the oil in my car. And the way I always knew that no matter what I did, or what happened in my life, I had a home and a man that loved me unconditionally.

For me I understand, God waited 95 years for Papa to be with Him and He didn't want to wait any longer. I would feel the same way.

Joel Swails (grandson, son of John W. Swails III): reading on behalf of Jaffa Swails Szymanski (grand-daughter, daughter of John W. Swails III)

I’d like to start by saying how much I wish I could be there right now. I was able to come home from China to be with Papa during his last two weeks. I heard he was in the hospital and I wanted so badly to see him and talk to him that I flew home immediately. I was able to be with him and say goodbye and I appreciate that time with him so much. Even though he was in pain and suffering, he made the efforts to squeeze my hand and say, “I love you, too, darling.” 

Last Wednesday was the last time I saw him. My flight left the next morning and I needed to say goodbye to him. I told him that I had to leave to go back to China and I love him--he squeezed my hand and said, “I know you do, darling.”  Even in his terrible pain he was able to feel my heart and the need I had to say goodbye to him. I’ll always be grateful for that last moment with him.

Papa was the best Grandpa I could’ve asked for. He was a great man all around and I was always reminded of that by the people he impacted in his life and the stories that they shared about him with me. Beyond his love of the Lord and his love of people, his love for his grandchildren was great too, and always apparent. He loved on us as children, tolerated us lovingly as teenagers, and respected us as adults. His unassuming interest in our lives always left me with an overwhelming sense of love. He was a fountain of knowledge and wisdom, but with us kids he was always a huggable refuge.

My favorite memories of Papa are from the times we would go fishing. He had a worm bed in his backyard to use for fishing, which you just can’t help but admire. He would send me out there to do the dirty work and fill up a bucket. We would fish in silence most of the time, catching what we could, and then we would clean them together and cook 'em for supper. He always taught me the right way of doing things and I loved the time he took for me. When we were fishing down at the island house we’d have so much fun even just throwing the fish to the pelican, Sammy. He made special time for me and that made our relationship special to me.

He loved to get me to comb his hair. He’d sit in a certain chair and promptly fall asleep as soon as I started. And as soon as he fell asleep I would start putting girly hair bows in his hair --for him to wake up to. He’d always put on a satisfying reaction, just for my entertainment.

In his life, Papa showed us stability, commitment, honor, and the love of Jesus. People have always said that Papa will leave a great legacy behind and they’re right, but more than they may ever know. Papa’s legacy lives in our hearts and will continue to touch people by the decisions we make–-decisions based upon his example.

John W. Swails IV (grandson, son of John W. Swails III)

On behalf of the Swails family, we would like to thank you for coming today to honor Papa’s memory. It is a great comfort to have so many familiar faces to grieve with us, and to celebrate and remember a full life and a rich heritage.

Throughout the years, we as his family members would hear about the effect that Papa had on the world around him. This was wonderful for us to experience because each of us felt the Lord’s mantle on him at one time or another. But the man we knew was so deeply personal that the accolades of the outside world approached us from a distance.

You might be surprised to know that Papa didn’t talk about God much when he and I were alone. He didn’t have to. Of course he would discuss Scripture and Christian living if asked. But he would talk about you as a person. He was deeply interested in the lives of other people. Those of you who knew him know that Papa had an incredible memory for others. Students and friends from long ago would be surprised to see him after many years apart and find that he remembered everything about them in incredible detail.

For me, I saw Christ living through my grandfather in a way that did much more than words could have explained. There was a synergy at work there that is difficult to describe. I understood God from watching Papa. So much so that now I find that as I reference Scripture in any fashion, I instinctively think of my grandfather.

The goal of our Lord and Savior is that God’s Word and will would enter a person and guide their purpose from the inside. In observing my grandfather’s life, I saw the purpose and the will of God strongly at work in a man who carried it with such a grace and ease that it seemed effortless. It was in him when he preached, and it was in him when he was sitting up late at night telling stories with his family.

There was no disconnect between the faith and the man. He was his beliefs.

Papa’s road to becoming such a profound speaker and Biblical scholar is an interesting one. He once told me a story about his sister Etta asking what he was going to do when he grew up. Papa answered by saying that he thought he would become a preacher.

Upon hearing this, I asked Papa if he had ever before entertained the idea of being a preacher. He replied that he hadn’t. In fact, at that time, he wasn’t saved. Why he spoke these words were never made clear. But it is in my thoughts that the Lord’s hand was already strong on him, and that Papa’s life was being directed from above, even if he wasn’t quite aware of it yet.

Later, once he accepted the Lord, at a service held at Holy Trinity PHC in Andrews, South Carolina, a representative from Holmes Bible College told Papa that he needed to attend school at the college. In an odd twist of irony, Papa’s application for admission was rejected four times. This was due largely to the incomplete nature of his education. Papa had quit school when he was in 5th grade in order to work the farm for his family.

However, Papa’s fifth attempt to apply to Holmes Bible College was successful due to the fact that someone who had already been accepted dropped out. Once accepted, Papa went on to do incredible things. I wonder what Holmes Bible College thought of their application process later.

What would I say to Papa were he to hear me?

I went to visit grandma’s grave, and I sat and thought about what I had on my heart, and what she would want to hear. I told her “Your children, your grandchildren, and your great-grandchildren all love the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ lives in them and they will pass that on to future generations.”

That is what would have meant the most to Glenda Swails, and that is what would have been most supremely important to Papa.

That is what I would say to him: “You have left us a rich heritage that will live on. The Word has taken root in all of us, and we will pass to our children the way of life that you have shown us. That is our solemn promise and pledge to you.”

That I believe is the greatest tribute that we can give to my grandfather: that those of us who were so impacted by his life should take those Biblical life-lessons and pass them on to others, anchored in the Word, and fueled by the rich love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When considering Papa’s life and legacy, it seems appropriate to close with a Scripture, and I selected one of mine and Papa’s favorite translations of the Bible to read from. As I looked up the passages that seem to sum up much of Papa’s life and thoughts, I found that he had already underlined them. As I read them, I can almost hear his voice echoing through the veil that separates those of us in the temporal realms from the sweet gardens of the Lord where I know Papa dwells in peace.

Psalm 16

6 My portion of the land fell to me in goodly places: yea, I have been pleased with my heritage.

7 I will bless the Lord, for He has given me counsel; my heart also guides me during the night.

8 I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10 For thou hast left not my soul in Sheol; neither hast thou suffered thy Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt show me the path of life, and I shall be filled with the joy of thy countenance, with the pleasure of victory of thy right hand.

[Editor's Note: I wanted you my readers to see the depth of Christian formation and expression in the grandchildren of Brother John Swails. John IV is a journalist, and you can very easily see he has a gift for writing and expressing his faith in the Lord Jesus Chris. I know that Brother John Swails is proud of all of his grandchildren. Dr. Jim Swails son, Ryan, played the guitar and sang a solo, "Give Me Jesus."  I am grateful to John IV for sending me these outstanding tributes from the grandchildren. I wanted you to feel that you had been to the celebration service for Brother John Swails' life and legacy.]