John Swilley

John Swilley, age 88, passed away Friday, January 31, 2020 at his home in Harmontown, MS. He was the husband of Becky Swilley.

Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with a graveside service to follow at Friendship Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Van Vleet, MS at 3:00 P.M. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Wells Funeral Home.

John was born on March 24, 1932 to the late Cody and Mary Atterberry Swilley in Conran, MO. He was a member of Tyro Baptist Church and was a lifetime farmer. Farming was an art to John, he knew how to make things grow. When he was with Matson Farms, he received first place in the National Corn Growers Association for the best corn yield in the state. He was an avid reader and never lost his quest for learning. He was also a Mason and a Shriner. John was a humble man, who loved his family, his work, his church, and his God. He will be deeply missed by those who knew him.

Those he leaves behind to cherish his memory include his adoring wife, Rebecca “Becky” Swilley of Como, MS; four daughters, Diane Cobb (Ron) of Franklin, TN, Debbie Hunter (Stan) of Houlka, MS, Anita Brown (Rick) of Hazel Green, AL, and Gayla Hodnett of Pontotoc, MS; four sons, Terry Swilley (Kathy) of Arkansas, Zane Alford (Kathy Jo) of Enid, MS, Vic Alford (Tracy) of Oxford, MS, and Chad Alford (Mandy) of Batesville, MS; two sisters, Mary Hall of Omaha, Nebraska, and Georgia Phillips of St. Louis, MO; 10 grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by two siblings, Cuba Higgerson and Cody Swilley.