Wanda Faye Swafford

Wanda Faye Swafford, 74, passed peacefully into the presence of Jesus Saturday, July 26, 2025, at home, surrounded by family and friends.

Wanda was born on Saturday, July 14, 1951, in Riceville, Tennessee to Chester Pearl Swafford and Jessie Mae Everett Swafford. From an early age, Wanda was hardworking, smart, and responsible – doing well in school and working on the family farm even after her father passed away when she was fourteen, leaving her to care for her mother and younger sister Janice. Originally desiring to become a history teacher, Wanda developed a passion for nursing as she cared for her mother until she passed away from cancer when Wanda was only sixteen. It was around this time that tragedy continued as Wanda also lost her beloved boyfriend Steven who, whether in spirit, by memory, or in her heart, is said to have remained with Wanda throughout her life.

Wanda and Janice moved to Huntsville, Alabama after the death of their parents to live with their Uncle C.L., Aunt Mildred, and cousins Glenda, Jo, and Norma Swafford. It was there she met Myra Smith who became a life-long friend. Wanda graduated from SR Butler High School in 1969. Devoted to her sister, Wanda declined an opportunity to travel overseas to work as a live-in nanny and continue her education. Instead, she and friend Myra attended Nursing School at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Working her way through school, Wanda graduated UAB School of Nursing with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1974. She became night supervisor at UAB for a time. Although a UAB alumnus, she was a “Roll Tide” fan … especially if there was a GA Bulldog fan in the room to tease.

Independent and adventurous, Wanda enjoyed travel nursing for many years and made friends everywhere she went. On an assignment to Jefferson Hospital in 1981, she not only made other life-long friends with Patricia Rooks and family, she gained a sister and family over the last 44 years and brought with her Janice, Wanda’s beloved nephews Billy and Wade Hicks, and their children and grandchild.

After a few more travel assignments, Wanda came back to the Augusta area where she worked night shift and loved being a night owl. Wanda would often work holidays so that others could be with their families. However, she loved to celebrate with, visit, and take vacations with family every chance she had. Wanda eventually moved to Jefferson County and worked several more years at McDuffie Regional Hospital until she retired.

Wanda enjoyed reading, antiquing, owls, and Elvis. She loved to travel, loved to try new experiences, loved to include others, and loved to shop – but not for herself so much; she was always thinking of others and finding things she thought they should have. Wanda just enjoyed giving. She always showed an interest in others and so could make conversation easily. She truly cared so she remembered what was going on with people, followed up with them, encouraged them, and became a part of their lives. She was a true friend. Wanda also loved the beach. She, Trish, and various members of the family took trips often as they could. As much as Wanda loved traveling and nursing, her true passion was children and spoiling them every chance she got. This has been true of Wanda since she was a teenager babysitting little ones right up to her last days. She loved, taught, and spoiled generation after generation after generation of kids as they grew up and had children of their own for her to love, teach, and spoil.

Wanda also saw potential in people and encouraged particular colleagues to pursue the excellence she saw in them. Although she desired to stay in touch with friends, her health began limiting her ability to keep up. Nevertheless, she often fondly shared stories and memories about her friends with those closest to her – never forgetting people or how much they meant to her.

Later in life, while volunteering to help with activities involving children at a church she did not yet actually attend, Wanda befriended Pastor Chad Watkins. Wanda always had respect for God and “religion,” but she actually came back later in life to her faith in the Lord that sprouted as a child. It was her fondness of and respect for Chad that actually got her back to church with a great niece Layla and great, great nephew Fisher while her health allowed. Wanda was more than an aunt to Layla; she was a best friend and like another mother, even treating Layla and Clay’s children Fisher and Toby Kate as grandchildren.

Wanda’s very best and most devoted friend and “chosen sister” was Patricia Rooks who has been Wanda’s caregiver for years. As Wanda became more dependent, Trish faithfully cared for her every need day and night, but they were blessed to gain Jerianna Davis as a friend when she became a part of their lives within the last year to help with Wanda’s caregiving. The love Wanda poured into so many others may have been returned tenfold by Trish alone; however, Wanda is so deeply loved by many. The hearts of those closest to her are truly broken, but God has used Wanda in their lives to inspire and perpetuate generosity, kindness, courage, loyalty, adventure, fun, hard-work, friendliness, strength, independence, sacrifice, and love.

In addition to her parents, Wanda was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law Janice and Donnie Hicks; cousins Norma Swafford Grady, Clinard Swafford, R.B. Alloway, Nadine Cumus, Diane Collins Jarvis; Swafford aunts and uncles John (Irene), Hubert, Ondus (Violet), Mary Merritt, Lulu, and Essie Alloway (Rob); and Uncle C.L. Swafford and her very dear “Aunt Mid” Mildred Swafford who loved and thought of Wanda as another daughter.

Wanda is survived by nephews William “Billy” Hicks (Mindy) and Donald “Wade” Hicks; great nephews and nieces Gage, Gavyn, John, Gabriella, Miranda, and great-great niece Eden Hicks; cousins Glenda Anderson, Jo Mitchell, Ruby Bradshaw Vaughn, Shirley Martin, Reita Jackson, Ruth Carlton, Patricia Fern; and numerous extended family members. Wanda is also survived by Patricia Rooks; Barbara Mims and descendants, notably Tyra Ledbetter; Mabel Ensz and descendants, notably Eddie and Michelle Unruh; Emily June Petrosino and son Steve; Carolyn Preston Rooks; the descendants of Carolyn Rooks Williamson; Simeon “Caleb” Ledbetter and sons Barrett and Paxton; great niece Layla Holbrook (Clay) and children Fisher and Toby Kate; Breamon Ledbetter (April) and daughters; Nathaniel Ledbetter; Cole Tindall (Katelynn) and children Dawson, Aubriana, and Baby Tindall; Sigrid Cluckey (Ledbetter) & son Steve; godchildren Will, Addison, Bekah (Ryan Kerr) and son Harris, and Victor from Chris and Maricar Harris; and innumerable extended “chosen” family and friends. Though all are not named specifically, all are “notable” to Wanda as she loved and shared a special relationship with everyone she knew.

Family and friends will be received at James Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 PM on Friday, August 1, 2025. Funeral services to celebrate a life well-lived and well-invested in others will be held in the James Funeral Home Chapel at 2:30 PM Saturday afternoon August 2, 2025, with Pastor Chad Watkins officiating. Serving as Pallbearers are Jimmy “Clay” Holbrook, Simeon “Caleb” Ledbetter, Barrett Ledbetter, Brendon “Cole” Tindall, Eddie Unruh, Darryl Unruh, Breamon Ledbetter, and Mason Mims, with Ashley Mims in reserve. Honorary “Polar Bears” (Pallbearers) are Paxton Ledbetter, Timothy Unruh, Dawson Tindall, and Jeremiah “Fisher” Holbrook. Wanda’s body will be laid to rest at Walden’s Church Cemetery in Avera, GA.

Wanda’s friends and family are invited after the service to share a meal in the original social hall at Wrens Christian Fellowship located at 202 Russell St, Wrens, GA 30833.