Essie Marie Wilkes Swearingen

A graveside service for Essie Marie Wilkes Swearingen, 89, will be held at 2 o’clock PM Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at Bethlehem Methodist Church Cemetery, 3477 Bethlehem Road in Blackstock, SC.  The family will receive friends after the service by the graveside. 

Mrs. Swearingen passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2020.  Born in Douglass, SC, she was the daughter of the late Robert Wilkes and Irene Douglas Wilkes.  She worked in the sewing room Winnsboro and operated Turner’s Grocery with John in the Lebanon Community.  She also enjoyed sewing for many people in the community, completing her daily crosswords with her sister Georgie by phone, and growing her flowers.  She also served as treasurer for Bethlehem Methodist Church for many years.

She is survived by her sister, Georgie Branham of Winnsboro; her sons, John “Red” Swearingen (Becky) of Winnsboro, David Swearingen of Winnsboro, and Donald Swearingen of Brookwood Home in Batesburg; her daughters, Patricia Swearingen Minton (Peter) of Lamar, Margie Swearingen Mijares (Cesar) of Pelion, Mary Swearingen Basden (Robert) of Lexington, and Debbie Swearingen of Winnsboro. She also has 22 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, a special granddaughter Jamie, and a special niece Erline who called her every morning.   

In addition to her parents and husband, John Swearingen, Essie is predeceased by six brothers, Earl Wilkes, Faye Wilkes, Thomas Wilkes, Leslie Wilkes, Robert Wilkes, and Gene Wilkes; two sisters, Lillian Wilkes Rhymer and Louise Wilkes Lewis; and grandsons, Alex and Isaiah Mijares. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethlehem Church Cemetery, 1997 Great Falls Road, Blackstock, SC 29014 or Babcock Center Foundation, PO Box 4389, West Columbia, SC 29171. 

Pope Funeral Home is assisting the Swearingen family. 

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