Kay Swafford

Linda "Kay" Swafford, 80 years old of Cleveland, TN passed away peacefully in her sleep Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

She has been a resident of Cleveland for 61 years after coming to Tennessee for a "vacation" to visit her sister and simply never left. She was born in Steamboat Springs, CO and resided in Tulsa, OK, Bakersfield, CA, and La Sierra, CA before finally settling in Cleveland in 1965 and making it her home. At that time, she married Carlis Swafford and they had two children, Jerrold and Maria.

Kay worked for over 30 years at local elementary school cafeterias feeding hundreds of kids every day with a smile on her face. She also spent nearly 40 years working at Bowman Hills church and school keeping the facilities clean for services. She dedicated her life to serving others not just through her career but in all of her hobbies, from sweet treats contributed to a party to crafting quilts for children in need, serving others was her true passion.

She spent her life baking beautiful cakes, chocolate, and cookies, and pouring her love into sewing clothes and making quilts for Bags of Love. Her love of nature ran deep and she was frequently found exploring new places, enjoying all water sports from swimming to surfing and white water rafting, and taking in beautiful sites from a hike. Her more peaceful adventures often included flying kites in a tranquil field, gardening, star gazing, bird watching, and capturing it all through her photography.

Kay was proceeded in death by her parents Thomas Richard Greenwood and Edith Maxine Greenwood and her brother Joseph Richard Greenwood. She leaves behind her twin May Buckner, her children Jerrold Swafford and Maria Wiley, her grandchildren Alexander Swafford, Zoe Swafford, Makayla Wiley, and Alexis Wiley, and her nieces Cindy Wallen and Holly Reynolds.

A memorial service was held at Bowman Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church Friday June 19, 2026 at 6pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to Bags of Love at Bowman Hills SDA church. Kay held this program close to her heart and dedicated many hours of her time to hand-make blankets for displaced children in the community.

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline... I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day."

II Timothy 1:7, 1:12b