Willow Jean Anderson Swift was born Sept. 19, 1934, to Ed and Eunice Smith Anderson, in the Jones Chapel community, of Pickett County.
She grew up in a tight-knit family, often surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters. She attended Wolf River Union Baptist Church with her family. Willow graduated from Pickett County High School, in 1952, and then attended Draughon's Business College, in Nashville. This is where she first became acquainted with White County native William Eugene “Bill” Swift, her future husband, describing him as "one of the rowdy boys in the back.” In the summer, she stayed with her aunts and uncles that had moved to White County, where she met Bill once again while working at Jay’s Department Store. Their marriage began on Nov 8, 1953 and lasted for 62 years.
Willow worked as a secretary during her early career but later became co-owner of Landowners Title Company with John Knowles. She loved to travel with her husband, friends, and family. In addition to bus trips with her mother, Willow and Bill visited almost all 50 states in their retirement. Alaska especially held many fond memories for them, since living there from 1955-1957 while Bill was in the Army. They were fortunate to revisit Alaska with their daughter and son-in-law on several occasions, showing them many of the special places they remembered from living there. They also traveled to Canada, Ireland, Scotland, and England.
Willow loved to read about local and Civil War history, as well as visiting historical sites. She thoroughly enjoyed researching her family history throughout the generations, often visiting many cemeteries and keeping meticulous notes about her family with information that will be a treasure for her loved ones. In addition, Willow was a skilled seamstress who enjoyed making beautiful dresses as well as crocheting and cross-stitching.
In 1974, Willow and Bill moved to a 1890s farmhouse in Doyle that they enjoyed restoring and redecorating. Bill always maintained a large garden there, while Willow canned and froze the vegetables. Her kitchen table was often set with green beans and corn straight from the garden, alongside her delicious fried chicken or chicken and dumplings.
Willow always held her family close and her feelings closer, but she never hid her pride and love for her family, especially her beloved grandchildren. She was always supportive and encouraged everyone to follow their dreams.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William E. “Bill” Swift; brothers, James S. Anderson, Curtis E. Anderson; sisters, Carolyn Tidrow, Brenda Latham; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Artie and Lorene Swift.
Willow is lovingly survived by her daughter, Cheryl Webster and husband Steve; grandchildren, Jody Webster and wife Alanna, Seth Webster and wife Hannah, Rebekah Marcum and husband Chad; great-grandchildren, Ben, Taylor, Elyse, Gracyn, Brynna, and Anderson Webster, Evelyn and Daniel Webster, Willow and Austin Marcum; brother, Roy Anderson and wife Martha, of Baxter; sister-in-law, Gwenith Anderson, of Byrdstown; brother-in-law, Jimmy Swift, of Sparta; and many nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be 10 a.m., Feb. 14, 2025, at Old Bon Air Cemetery. The family will receive friends 4-8 p.m., Feb. 13, at Hunter Funeral Home. Rick Cross and Frank Derrick will officiate.
Jody Webster, Seth Webster, Chad Marcum, Eddie Anderson, James Anderson, Benjamin Anderson, Eddie Swift, and Jimmy Douglas Swift will serve as pallbearers.
The Swift family would like to express a very special thank you to the CNAs and nurses at NHC Healthcare of Sparta. They cared for Willow with love and compassion and treated her as family.
Hunter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
