Emma Jean Swift

On Thursday, July 16, 2020, Emma Jean Swift went on to be with the Lord at the age of 85.

There will be Visitation Services on Thursday, July 23, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Fort Worth Funerals & Cremations, 8808 Camp Bowie W, Fort Worth, Texas. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, July 24, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Lighthouse Deliverance Church of God, 1913 W E Roberts Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas with Interment to follow at Moore Memorial Gardens, Arlington, Texas.

Mother Swift was born Emma Jean Wilson on October 9, 1934 in Fordyce, Arkansas to the union of Deacon Will Wilson and Mother Emma Lee Wilson. She attended school at Dallas County Training and attended church at Fordyce Church of God in Christ.

At a young age, Emma Jean married Leonard Brown in Fordyce, Arkansas and later moved to Gary, Indiana. To that union, 10 children were born.

Mother Swift devoted her life to ministry and wore many hats in the church. For many years, Mother Swift served as evangelist missionary and later as district missionary under her late Pastor George McKinney in Indiana. After relocating to California, Mother Swift worked as a psychiatric nurse at St. Francis hospital. Her dedication and work ethic over the years was recognized by the entire hospital. In 1986, she was honored as “Employee of the Year.” As a community worker, Mother Swift received recognition from the late Mayor Bradley of Los Angeles and former President Obama.

Emma Jean and Elder James Swift united in holy matrimony on December 24, 1976 in Los Angeles, California. In 2006, they relocated to Grand Prairie, Texas to enjoy their retirement. After moving to Texas, they attended Pastor Mike’s church and later became members of Light House Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Superintendent C.V. Simpkins. They later became members of Grace Church under the leadership of Pastor Jerry Alcorn. 

Over the years, Mother Swift has shown love and compassion for people. Elder and Mother Swift initiated a nonprofit ministry that gave food, clothes, blankets, etc. to the less fortunate in the community, and opened their homes to over 30 foster children. Mother Swift fully supported her church through fundraisers and sold meals she cooked from home. She ministered through music as she whole-heartedly played the piano. Her legendary song, Ninety-Nine and a Half Won’t Do, is truly the life she lived. Emma Jean Swift was a prayer warrior, a true woman of wisdom, and overcame many hardships and obstacles within her life. But through it all, she learned to trust and depend on God. She was a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, former foster mother, church mother, and friend.

Emma Jean Swift was preceded in death by her parents, Deacon Will Wilson and Mother Emma Lee Wilson, her siblings Edna Tate, Arthur Lee Tate, James Wilson, John Wilson, Bruce Wilson, Willie Mae Wilson, Barbara Dell Wilson, Mary Ruth Wilson, Floyd Lee Wilson, Earnest Wilson; her husband, James Swift, daughter, Darlene Vaxter, and sons James Brown, Larry Brown, and Myron Brown.

Mother Swift is survived by her son Leonard Brown of Houston, TX, her son Darrell Brown (Cynthia Brown) of Grand Prairie, TX, her son Wayne Brown (April Brown) of Fort Worth, TX, her daughter Nora Baran (Chester Baran) of Merrillville, IN, her daughter Sheila Brown of Fort Worth, TX, her daughter Edna Monem of Grand Prairie, TX, her extended children, Linda Solomon, James Perkins, Marcus Potter, Christian Williams, and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

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