In Memory of Verlon Edward Swafford

Perhaps it was because Verlon Edward Swafford was born on Christmas Day in 1916 that it was second nature for him to give so selflessly to others. He was the son of the late James H. Swafford and Eller Crawford Swafford who instilled in their children the values of hard work, integrity, family, and community service. Verlon grew up with brothers, Paul, Harvey, Carl, Clifton and his sister Bessie Blevins enjoying the natural beauty of the Iotla Valley community under the watchful eye of their parents. He met his future wife, Dorothy Bennett, when they were students at Iotla Elementary School and later Franklin High School. These childhood sweethearts dedicated their lives to each other and their friends were impressed by the mutual admiration and respect evident during their 67 year marriage.

Verlon had a strong love of his country and like many others in the “greatest generation” served proudly in the US Navy during World War II. He was a graduate of Blanton Business School in Asheville where he acquired the necessary skills to open the first Winn Dixie store on Main Street in Franklin. An entrepreneur at heart, it wasn’t long before he went on his own to start his own business; a meat market. Eventually he took charge of the fledgling Western Auto Store and built a thriving business over the next 34 years. Verlon was a leading member of the Franklin First Baptist Church, serving as deacon, trustee and Sunday school teacher for many years; the West-Swafford Sunday School Class is named after Verlon and J. Norman West, another outstanding citizen. He had a keen interest in the town of Franklin becoming a charter member of the Franklin Lions Club; 60-year member of Junaluskee Lodge 145; and board member of the Macon Fair Association. Looking out for the hardworking members of the community he devoted time and energy to serve as chairman of the Macon County Commissioners, director of the Bank of Franklin and First Union National Bank, and chairman of the Board of Angel Community Hospital as well as president of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Southwestern N.C. Planning and Economic Development Commission and the N.C. Medical Care Commission.

The embodiment of altruism, the world became a bit smaller when Verlon passed away November 30, 2007. He is greatly missed by his son, Ben Swafford and wife Jean of Franklin; grandsons, Joel and wife Kristy of Franklin, and Landon and wife Brook of Curlew, Washington; great-grandsons, Turner and Bennett of Franklin; and a number of nieces and nephews.