Jennifer Elaine Swinehart Bartlett

Jennifer Elaine (Swinehart) Bartlett passed away August 12, 2020, at her home in Pittsboro, North Carolina. She was born to Charles H. Swinehart, Jr., and Carol Y. Swinehart on September 20, 1974, in Bay City, Michigan. She is survived by her daughters Catherine R. Bartlett and Susannah G. Bartlett; parents Charles and Carol; sisters Cynthia G. Swinehart and Rebecca L. Rupp; and brother-in-law Randy Rupp.

She loved her daughters Catey and Susie more than anything. She took great pride in having meaningful experiences with them, from hikes in the woods near their home, to visiting art museums and galleries on trips to cities around the U.S. They also traveled internationally, including to Mexico, England and South Africa. She was committed to helping them understand the world and themselves. She cherished being a mother and being an integral part of their lives.

She also loved her sisters Cindy and Becki, and her parents. Although they lived in different states, she visited with them several times a year. She enjoyed playing Scrabble and cards, eating home-cooked meals, and simply being together.

She was a talented writer. She published several short stories and poems in literary journals, including The Georgia Review and The Kenyon Review, and was working on a book at the time of her passing. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Virginia, which she attended on a Poe-Faulkner Fellowship in Creative Writing. She received a Bachelor’s degree in English from Hollins College in Roanoke, VA. She taught at the University of Virginia and Duke University. She also mentored other writers through writing groups and tutoring.

She served her community through several organizations. Most recently she was a volunteer for the Red Cross, taught several students English as a Second Language through Chatham Literacy, and volunteered for the Orange County Rape Crisis Center and Compass Center for Women and Families in Chapel Hill, NC. She previously served as a board member of the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry in North Carolina.

She enjoyed beauty in many forms. She appreciated art, and sought it out wherever she went. She loved the outdoors, and would find places to explore with her daughters. She was an avid reader, especially authors such as William Faulkner, E. M. Forster, Jean Rhys, and Sylvia Plath. She enjoyed listening to music, including Tori Amos, Madonna, The Cure, Fleetwood Mac, Lana Del Rey and Banks.

She’ll be missed by many – her family, friends, fellow writers and the organizations she served. She was caring, generous, creative and intelligent. Her kindness, compassion and love will continue to be remembered by all who knew her. She was beautiful inside and out.

For those who wish to make contributions in her memory, please direct them to American Red Cross, Chatham Literacy, or Compass Center for Women and Families.