Darlene Lamarr Swilley

Darlene and Don were born on June 2, 1938 in Greenville, SC to Earl Paulk, Sr. and Addie Mae (Tomberlin) Paulk. She attended school in Charlotte, NC, and Tampa, FLA.

She never dated anyone but the man she married - the love of her life, Rev. Jimmy R. Swilley (1933-2020). They were wed on his 22nd birthday, August 29, 1955. She was 17. They were married for 65 years, until his passing.

In 1958 she gave birth to Jimmy Earl Swilley. He was their only child.

Jimmy and Darlene began their ministry as evangelists (3 yrs), and then pastored churches in Monroe, GA (2 yrs), Soddy-Daisy, TN (4 years), Macon GA (2 yrs), Bremen GA (5 yrs), Atlanta, GA (16 yrs), and finally at North Highland Church in Columbus, GA (22 yrs). As an ordained Minister, she worked alongside her husband until they both retired in 2008. During that time she was a Bible teacher, a great organist, a singer, an accomplished artist, a counselor, a decorator, and a Christian TV talk show host and television personality. She ministered in the Church of God, The Assemblies of God, and in many Charismatic churches, and in Women’s Aglow meetings. She was ordained under JESM, and was an honorary graduate of EPI.

Darlene is preceded in death by her parents and siblings Myrtle Paulk Mushegan, Earl Paulk Jr., twin brother Don Paulk, Joan Paulk Harris, and her husband of 65 years, Jimmy R. Swilley. She is survived by her son, Bishop Jim Swilley, her son-in-law, Kenneth Marshall, grandchildren, Jared Swilley, Christina Swilley, Judah Swilley, Jonah Swilley and Sophie Audibert-Swilley, great-grandchildren Sofia Hickel, Olivia Hickel, Clementine Amateau, and Raphaelle Audibert-Swilley, and sister Ernestine Swilley.

A Celebration of Life will be held on March 9, 2026, at 2:00 pm at H.M. Patterson & Son Oglethorpe Hill (4550 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30319), with Bishop Jim Swilley officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service at 1:00 pm.