Jewell Allen Bellar McSwiney

Born April 12, 1917 in Nashville, Tennessee, Jewell was the daughter of Carrie Lee Harris and Charles Stephen Bellar. She graduated from the Hume Fogg High School in Nashville before becoming a private secretary to the president of a large manufacturing company. On December 14, 1940, she married the boy next door and love of her life, James W. McSwiney.

Following their marriage, Jewell and her husband “Mac” moved to Rockport, Indiana, where he ran the paper mill and she ran the office. They returned to Nashville in 1942 when Mac entered the service. Jewell lived at home with her mother and sister, Charlene. Jewell and Mac’s son, Charles Ronald was born in 1943, followed by a daughter, Margaret Ann, in 1944.

In early 1945, the family moved to Brunswick, Georgia where Mac went to work for the Brunswick Pulp and Paper Mill. This move was the first step in establishing their long-time home in the Golden Isles. It was here, while raising her children and supporting Mac’s career, that Jewell developed a love of golf, bringing home several club championships over the years. In addition to being an avid golfer, Jewell was a member of the Garden Club in Dayton, as well as the Sea Island Gardening Group, and was a member of the Skimmers Club of Sea Island. She also enjoyed playing bridge, reading and doing needlepoint. She continued to enjoy her weekly Thursday lunches with friends until her health prevented her from doing so.

In 1954, Jewell and the family moved to Dayton, Ohio, as Mac went to work for the Mead Corporation. Although Dayton was their home for many years, they continued to return to Brunswick, St. Simons, and Jekyll for vacations until they built a permanent home on 13th Street on Sea Island in 1980. This home, and later their home in Ocean Forest, became the place where the family gathered and remained connected despite being spread out across the country.

Jewell’s survivors include her husband of 71 years, James W. McSwiney, of Sea Island, her son, Charles Ronald McSwiney (Jane), of Naples, Florida and her daughter, Margaret Ann McSwiney Hutchinson of Decatur, Georgia and Sea Island. She found great joy in her two grandsons, Richard Hutchinson (Lesley) of Atlanta and Scott Hutchinson (Emily) of Denver, Colorado, and in recent years, in her two great-grandsons, Will and Alec, sons of Richard and Lesley. She is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews including Charles Goodwin (Kathleen) of Placitas, New Mexico, Jim McSwiney (Ellen) of Atlanta, Ben McSwiney (Linda) of Raleigh, North Carolina, and nieces, Carol and Sue McSwiney of Nashville, Tennessee. Jewell was predeceased by her parents and sister Charlene Bellar Goodwin.

Visitation and viewing will be at the Edo Miller Funeral Home from 4 to 6 pm on Monday July 16th. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, July 17th at the St. Simons Baptist Church with the Reverend Bill Henderson officiating. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. The burial service will follow the reception at Christ Church, Frederica at 2pm.

Arrangements are under the direction of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home.

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