Vaneta Lane Newsum Swords, age 95, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford. She was born August 17, 1930, to Robert G. and Resa Gates Newsum. Vaneta was a member of Cairo Baptist Church. She retired from General Electric, and worked at the Memphis Post Office, Sears, and Browning Funeral Home in Ecru. She was a member of the Ecru Good timers Club, Modern Woodman of the World, and a lifetime member of the Eastern Star. Vaneta enjoyed camping, traveling, cooking and spending time with her family.
Visitation will be Tuesday, February 10, 2026, from 5 to 7 P.M. at Cairo Baptist Church, and Wednesday from 1 to 2 P.M., with the service to follow on Wednesday at 2:00 P.M. at Cairo Baptist Church, with Rev. Marty Browning and Rev. Derrick Finley officiating, and burial will follow in the Ecru Cemetery. Browning Funeral Home is honored to assist the Swords family.
Survivors include her daughter, Donna Sauer (Devin), a daughter-in-law, Charlotte Swords, three grandchildren, Clint Harper, Blake Swords and Christie Selfors (Charlie), two great-grandchildren, Natalie Grace and Caden Selfors, and a host of nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews that she dearly loved.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Michael Swords, three sisters, Hermie Lewis, Dola Rorie and Eva Bailey, and four brothers, Robert G. “Bob” Newsum, Jr., Travis Newsum, Sam Newsum and Cody Newsum.
Pallbearers will be Jimmy Hamblin, Steve Roberson, Joel Matthews, Jim Matthews, Jake Holcomb and Larry Swords. Honorary pallbearers will be Cole Carruth and Brad Baskin.
Memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
