Obituary for Frances "Janell" Swearingen (Wright)
Frances “Janell” Swearingen, 84, of Greenwood, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 19, 2023 in her home. She was born on July 21, 1938 in Atkins, Arkansas to Francis Earl and Ollie (Harris) Wright.
Janell was an incredible wife, mom, grandmother, mother-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend. In the years that she was granted on this earth, she lived them well. We, her family, are pleased to announce to you that she has entered into the joy of her salvation, and is no longer suffering the pains of Alzheimers or any other frailty, but is now made whole, rejoicing, singing and experiencing worship in a way that we who remain on this side of glory can only dream about.
Born at end of the Great Depression to two hard-working, Christ-following parents, the second to youngest of 6 kids, she learned from youth the value of hard work, respect, integrity, and the joy of knowing Jesus. Her early years in an incubator of strong family, faith and community became the framework that God would use to continue to grow her and make her into the woman that we knew.
While still a young girl in school, her family moved to Fort Smith. In the late 1950’s, she was using her talent as a pianist to play for a local gospel quartet when she met the brother of one of the quartet members. This young sailor had driven from Memphis, where he was stationed, to visit his brother who had been stationed at Fort Chaffee. But soon, the frequent drives from Memphis to Fort Smith were not so much about his brother as they were to a certain Brunette. Eventually the courtship grew into engagement, and on September 3, 1961, Janell Wright became Janell Swearingen.
The two settled in Fort Smith and began a family. Within a few years, the couple had a son, Bryan, and then a few years later, Darin was born. In 1973, Ken and Janell both surrendered to the call of ministry, packed up the small family and moved to Oskaloosa Iowa so that Ken could attend Vennard College in preparation for ministry. Janell went to work for the school and this served as the launch of a ministry that they would have for many years to come.
After graduation, Ken and Janell served as Pastor and Pastors wife to congregations in Natchez, Mississippi and Bayou La Batre, Alabama before returning to Arkansas to build a home just outside of Greenwood. During their years in ministry, Janell had also become an accomplished interior decorator, learning the art of making custom draperies, and had opened her own Business, Window Works, in both Alabama and Arkansas, and she excelled in this because she loved working with people to help them through her services. Eventually she retired from the shop so that she and Ken could spend more time together, with family and in Mission work, where Ken still served in his denomination as Missions director after his retirement from the pastorate.
It was on one particular missions trip to Myanmar, where she learned that a local pastor’s wife had a single antique sewing machine and a vision to use it to help young women learn to to sew. This offers both a trade to keep them off the streets and an avenue to learn about Jesus. Janell was moved to action, returned to the states and helped spearhead the raising of support and equipment to launch a ministry in Yangon Myanmar. Today, the ministry of the Janell Sewing Center exists for this very purpose and was named in her honor.
Over the years, Ken and Janell became “mom and dad” to so many different people over the years, and no matter which house they lived in, they simply could never have enough bedrooms. It was not uncommon for them to take someone in need into their home, which at times became months and on a few occasions close to a year. The Swearingen home was always a place where people were loved deeply.
Janell was a talented musician, able to play multiple instruments and was known for her piano skills and beautiful voice. She was an excellent cook, had an infectious laugh (which sometimes resulted from her inability to tell a joke), was a great listener with an enormous heart for people, loved Jesus and desired to grow to be more and more like Him. Around the home, there remains a collection of some of her Bibles from over the years, well-used, marked up with her notes, tear stains, underlines and smudges from where she held firm onto the Word of God. (She normally wouldn’t leave her Bibles behind on a trip, but it’s OK. She doesn’t need them anymore. She is no longer “seeing through the glass, darkly.” Her faith has been made sight, and Janell experiences Him face to face, eternally)
There is so much that we would love to be able to write about her life, but let us just say that this short tribute would help a person get an overview of who Janell Swearingen was. Her life was much bigger than a few lines, and we confess, we can’t do it justice here. But for those of us who called her wife, mom, grandmother, “mimi,” and friend, we know this one thing to be true: She wrote her epitaph every day in a way made clear how she loved and where she placed value. The pages of her earthly life have been finished, and as epitaphs go, we know how our words truly fail in expressing the multi-faceted beauty of Janell Swearingen, but she leaves in her wake an enormous and rich legacy. We have loved her much, learned much from her, and enjoyed the journey alongside her. Janell loved, and we love her. We will continually cherish her memory, learn and grow from it, and eagerly await that reunion. And this is what Janell would want you to know: Because of Jesus, that reunion exists.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Reverend James Kenneth Swearingen of the home; three sons, Bryan Swearingen and his wife Diane of Mobile, Alabama, Darin Swearingen and his wife Raquel of Greenwood, Arkansas, and Jonathan Beltran of Quezon City, Philippines and six grandchildren, Kristina and Chase Swearingen, Steven Duran and Carl, Sasha and Denise Beltran.
A memorial service will be held at Cavanaugh Free Will Baptist Church, 2828 Briarcliff Ave, Fort Smith on Thursday, January 26, at 10am.
Private burial will be in the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Janell was an incredible wife, mom, grandmother, mother-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend. In the years that she was granted on this earth, she lived them well. We, her family, are pleased to announce to you that she has entered into the joy of her salvation, and is no longer suffering the pains of Alzheimers or any other frailty, but is now made whole, rejoicing, singing and experiencing worship in a way that we who remain on this side of glory can only dream about.
Born at end of the Great Depression to two hard-working, Christ-following parents, the second to youngest of 6 kids, she learned from youth the value of hard work, respect, integrity, and the joy of knowing Jesus. Her early years in an incubator of strong family, faith and community became the framework that God would use to continue to grow her and make her into the woman that we knew.
While still a young girl in school, her family moved to Fort Smith. In the late 1950’s, she was using her talent as a pianist to play for a local gospel quartet when she met the brother of one of the quartet members. This young sailor had driven from Memphis, where he was stationed, to visit his brother who had been stationed at Fort Chaffee. But soon, the frequent drives from Memphis to Fort Smith were not so much about his brother as they were to a certain Brunette. Eventually the courtship grew into engagement, and on September 3, 1961, Janell Wright became Janell Swearingen.
The two settled in Fort Smith and began a family. Within a few years, the couple had a son, Bryan, and then a few years later, Darin was born. In 1973, Ken and Janell both surrendered to the call of ministry, packed up the small family and moved to Oskaloosa Iowa so that Ken could attend Vennard College in preparation for ministry. Janell went to work for the school and this served as the launch of a ministry that they would have for many years to come.
After graduation, Ken and Janell served as Pastor and Pastors wife to congregations in Natchez, Mississippi and Bayou La Batre, Alabama before returning to Arkansas to build a home just outside of Greenwood. During their years in ministry, Janell had also become an accomplished interior decorator, learning the art of making custom draperies, and had opened her own Business, Window Works, in both Alabama and Arkansas, and she excelled in this because she loved working with people to help them through her services. Eventually she retired from the shop so that she and Ken could spend more time together, with family and in Mission work, where Ken still served in his denomination as Missions director after his retirement from the pastorate.
It was on one particular missions trip to Myanmar, where she learned that a local pastor’s wife had a single antique sewing machine and a vision to use it to help young women learn to to sew. This offers both a trade to keep them off the streets and an avenue to learn about Jesus. Janell was moved to action, returned to the states and helped spearhead the raising of support and equipment to launch a ministry in Yangon Myanmar. Today, the ministry of the Janell Sewing Center exists for this very purpose and was named in her honor.
Over the years, Ken and Janell became “mom and dad” to so many different people over the years, and no matter which house they lived in, they simply could never have enough bedrooms. It was not uncommon for them to take someone in need into their home, which at times became months and on a few occasions close to a year. The Swearingen home was always a place where people were loved deeply.
Janell was a talented musician, able to play multiple instruments and was known for her piano skills and beautiful voice. She was an excellent cook, had an infectious laugh (which sometimes resulted from her inability to tell a joke), was a great listener with an enormous heart for people, loved Jesus and desired to grow to be more and more like Him. Around the home, there remains a collection of some of her Bibles from over the years, well-used, marked up with her notes, tear stains, underlines and smudges from where she held firm onto the Word of God. (She normally wouldn’t leave her Bibles behind on a trip, but it’s OK. She doesn’t need them anymore. She is no longer “seeing through the glass, darkly.” Her faith has been made sight, and Janell experiences Him face to face, eternally)
There is so much that we would love to be able to write about her life, but let us just say that this short tribute would help a person get an overview of who Janell Swearingen was. Her life was much bigger than a few lines, and we confess, we can’t do it justice here. But for those of us who called her wife, mom, grandmother, “mimi,” and friend, we know this one thing to be true: She wrote her epitaph every day in a way made clear how she loved and where she placed value. The pages of her earthly life have been finished, and as epitaphs go, we know how our words truly fail in expressing the multi-faceted beauty of Janell Swearingen, but she leaves in her wake an enormous and rich legacy. We have loved her much, learned much from her, and enjoyed the journey alongside her. Janell loved, and we love her. We will continually cherish her memory, learn and grow from it, and eagerly await that reunion. And this is what Janell would want you to know: Because of Jesus, that reunion exists.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Reverend James Kenneth Swearingen of the home; three sons, Bryan Swearingen and his wife Diane of Mobile, Alabama, Darin Swearingen and his wife Raquel of Greenwood, Arkansas, and Jonathan Beltran of Quezon City, Philippines and six grandchildren, Kristina and Chase Swearingen, Steven Duran and Carl, Sasha and Denise Beltran.
A memorial service will be held at Cavanaugh Free Will Baptist Church, 2828 Briarcliff Ave, Fort Smith on Thursday, January 26, at 10am.
Private burial will be in the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.