Stephen Desmond Swords' Obituary
Stephen Desmond Swords Jr. passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 18th, 2015 at the age of 73. He was preceded in death by his parents, Desmond and Rosa Swords. He is survived by his wife, Sherry Holliday Swords, his son Trip (Wendy), and his three siblings, Robert (Linda), Thomas (Betsy) and Sue (Joe) and his five grandchildren. Stephen along with his brothers and son, was a proud graduate of Christian Brothers High School. He was a mainstay at football and basketball games and especially wrestling matches well after his son had already graduated. After his high school years came to a close, he continued his Brothers education at Christian Brothers College. After college, he followed in his fathers footsteps and began a successful career in the flooring industry with companies such as Dan River, Shaw Industries, and LD Brinkman. As with many sales positions, he traveled and lived in various cities such as Cartersville, Atlanta, Memphis, but most importantly, Greenville, SC where he met Sherry Jo Holliday, the future Mrs. Swords. Lucky for him, this is where his sales acumen paid off the most. Stephen was the epitome of the phrase, “it’s not what you say, it’s what you do”. He was loyal and dedicated husband, father, “Papa”, brother, son, coach, and friend. He never missed his son’s wrestling matches, football, baseball, basketball, or soccer game. If you were down, he could make you laugh. If you were sick, he visited you. If you needed someone to cheer you up, he always had a story to tell… if you had the time. And lastly and most importantly, he loved his family. His grandchildren Brooke, Brock, Brandon, Janie and Drew could do no wrong and were everything to him. But more, importantly, he was everything to us. We are human and we miss you, but because we are Christians we celebrate your life and rejoice your return to your heavenly home. The family will receive friends and family from 3:00pm until a memorial service begins at 4 p.m. Sunday November 22, 2015 at Memorial Park Funeral Home Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”
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