A graveside funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Alabama National Cemetery in Shelby County, 3133 Highway 119, Montevallo, AL for Cathy Lynn Williams Swanson who passed on to her Heavenly home on Friday, January 5, 2024. Rev. John Nicholson will officiate. O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home is directing.
Pallbearers are Donald Averette, Gene Richards, Daniel Edgar, Don Boyle, Kevin Swanson, Alexander Bates, John Braxton, and John Easley. Honorary Pallbearers are James Childs and Desmond Bell.
Mrs. Cathy Lynn Williams Swanson was born on August 19, 1954, to Ralph Gist Williams, Sr. and Bess Giles Williams in Meridian, Mississippi. She grew up in Linden, AL. She wed Warren Martin Swanson, whom she referred to as “W,” in her junior year of high school, they married July 30, 1971. They were married 52 years. She graduated from Marengo Academy in 1972. After graduating high school, she went on to Alverson Draughon Business College, Birmingham, AL where she graduated with a degree in Business Administration. For the majority of her career she worked at Southland Nursing Home, Marion, AL as the Administrator and led them well for over 43 years. She was highly devoted to her job, her staff, the residents, and her colleagues. They were her family as well and she loved them all dearly. She was an advocate for healthcare and the elderly.
She loved the Lord, the beach, the sun, the pool, camping, animals, hummingbirds, plants, and flowers. She loved all things University of Alabama. Most of all she loved her family fiercely and loved being together. She absolutely loved that she was a “Nana”. She loved her husband; she was the absolute best mom to her girls and the best Nana to her grands.
She is proceeded in death by her parents, Ralph Gist Williams, Sr. and Bess Giles Williams, and brother, Gary Clay Williams.
She is survived by her husband, Warren Martin Swanson; daughters, Cynthia Lynn Parten (BJ), Rachael Swanson Weaver (Eddie), Jennifer Swanson Byrd (Coley); grandchildren, Lauren Danielle Corbitt (Christian), Sara Grace Byrd, Ellie Caroline Steward, Olivia Kate Byrd; greatgrandchild, Gabriel Canaan Corbitt; brothers, Ralph Gist Williams, Jr. (Tricia) and Paul Kevin Williams.
The family would like to extend its deepest appreciation to Lewis and Faye Manderson Cancer Center, Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Dr. John Crew, Dr. David Hinton, and staff; UAB Kirkland Clinic Oncology, Birmingham, AL: Dr. Mehmet Akce and staff; Tuscaloosa Internal Medicine, Tuscaloosa, AL: Dr. Scott Fulgham and staff.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Manderson Cancer Center, Tuscaloosa, AL or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home.
