Elizabeth Ann Guilliams Swafford

Elizabeth Ann Guilliams Swafford of Natchitoches, LA went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 8, 2015. A Celebration of Life for Libby will be held on Tuesday, May 12, at the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches. Visitation in the church sanctuary will begin at 9 a.m. with service following at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Memory Lawn Cemetery. Libby was born January 21, l952, to the late Johnny Hilton Guilliams and Sammie Land Guilliams in Natchitoches. Libby is survived by her husband of forty-four years, Mark Cooper Swafford, Sr., her daughter LeAnne Elizabeth Swafford Cade and husband Dr. James Coleman Cade, Jr. of Natchitoches, her son, Mark Cooper Swafford, Jr. of Oakdale, her grandchildren, Coleman Wyatt Cade and Keely Anne Cade, and her sisters Rhonda Guilliams Ross and husband Roger Ross of Campti and Martha Guilliams Alford and husband Kenny Alford of Natchitoches. Extended family members include Anna Swafford Bernard and husband Henry H. Bernard Jr. of Baton Rouge, John Swafford and wife Marcia Tynes Swafford of Manitou Springs, Colorado, Melissa Swafford Ward and husband Dr. Mark B. Ward of Natchitoches and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The three most important things to Libby were her deep faith in the Lord, her family and her friends. She was a devout Christian and shared her faith daily with others knowing that the Lord was the light and salvation of all. She had a genuine interest in others and always inquired about them and their families. If need was indicated, Libby included them in her daily prayers and devotionals. Libby was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches and the Spirit Seekers Sunday school class. She was a graduate of Northwestern State University and taught elementary grades for seven years for the Natchitoches Parish School Board and was director of the First Baptist Church Pre-school program for four years. Libby and Mark owned and operated Swafford Farms and she was involved in the Louisiana Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership Committee activities at the parish and state levels. She was the owner of Bayou Antiques and, with Mark, of Swafford Trailer Sales. Libby delighted in time spent with her family at the beach – their “special” place every summer. To her beloved grandchildren, Coleman and Keely, she was “BB”. She loved reading to and playing with them and attending all of their school and play activities. “Grandchildren time” spent on the farm with BB and Pop Pop was special to her. Libby also loved antiquing, shopping and lunching with her Lunch Bunch friends and visiting with family and friends while sharing a cold Coke or coffee and anything chocolate. Pallbearers for the service will be her brothers-in-law Roger Ross, Kenny Alford, Henry Bernard, John Swafford and Dr. Mark Ward and her cousin Dr. Michael Land. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Spirit Seekers Sunday school class and her friends in the Lunch Bunch group. The family would like to acknowledge and give special thanks to Libby’s Lunch Bunch friends, the Spirit Seekers Sunday school class, the members of the First Baptist Church, neighbors, Doctors Maxwell McDonald, Destin Black and Robert Hernandez, and the nurses and staff of the Willis Knighton Cancer Center for their prayers, support, love and many acts of kindness toward Libby and her entire family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Libby’s name to the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches’ Legacy Fund (508 Second Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457), the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home (7200 Desiard St., Monroe, LA 71203) or a charity of choice.