Betty Ann MacEachron Swinny

Published 12:01 am Thursday, March 17, 2016

Jan. 29, 1926 – March 15, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Betty Ann MacEachron Swinny, 90, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Magnolia House, will be 2 p.m. Friday at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Walton Jones, rector, officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery in the Swinny family plot under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time in the parish hall at the church.

Mrs. Swinny was born Jan. 29, 1926, in Alexandria, La., the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald MacEachron Jr.

She grew up in Jackson, Tenn., where she met and later married her husband of 56 years on June 7, 1944. While growing up, she and her sister spent a number of vacations in Natchez visiting her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Byrne. After the end of World War II, she and her beloved husband chose Natchez as their home.

She was educated at Lambuth College in Jackson and was a member of several social organizations.

Mrs. Swinny was a longtime active member of the Pilgrimage Garden Club and served on the pageant committee, Natchez Beautification Committee, Junior Gardeners and was Stanton Hall hostess chairman for a number of years. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and served as group leader for St. Hilda’s Guild. She was also a member of the Natchez chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and belonged to a number of local clubs and organizations.

She and her husband loved travel, beautiful architecture and scenery.

Mrs. Swinny was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband; and one son, Lee Dabney Swinny.

Survivors include four children, Valerie S. Bergeron and husband, John, and James H. Swinny III, all of Natchez, Mizette S. Houghton and husband, Jack, of Austin, Texas, and Scott R. M. Swinny and wife, Susan Meier, of Brandon; eight grandchildren, Clif Hinson and wife, Candice Dunbar, of Madison, William H. Hinson and Scott Swinny Jr., both of Hattiesburg, James C. Swinny, Katie Anne Swinny and John Dabney Swinny, all of Jackson, Ariane Swinny of Natchez and Lee Edward Swinny and wife, Chelsea Ellis, of Palmer, Alaska.; five great-grandchildren, Cameron and Cole Hinson, Peyton Hicks, Henry Lane and Oliver Lee Swinny; and her only sister, Mrs. John O. Bienvenu of Broussard, La.

Pallbearers will be her six grandsons and one nephew, Bill Bienvenu of Broussard.

The family expresses its sincerest gratitude to Dr. Kenneth Stubbs and the staff of Magnolia Village who looked after their sweet mother so devotedly.

Memorials may be sent to Trinity Episcopal Church, 305 S. Commerce St., Natchez, MS 39120, the Pilgrimage Garden Club or to a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.