Daisy Pruitt Swinton

Thirty thousand sixty-nine days ago, on April 14, 1938, in Madison County, Alabama, a small family: the father, John Thomas Pruitt, the mother, Mary Ellen Capshaw Pruitt, and a little boy, John Thomas Pruitt Jr. welcomed a little girl, Daisy Mae Pruitt to the world. She had promise from day one—born with a veil over her face, the older generation understood that to mean she would be able to discern things others could not.

In 1938, an unfortunate event touched the small Pruitt family as Daisy’s father died tragically four months after her birth. But the family triumphed over this life-changing loss as God blessed Mary Ellen to later unite in marriage with Benjamin Eddie Love. Their union would transform the once tiny family into a larger loving family with 9 additional brothers and sisters. Arthur James Love, Bertha Love Brayboy, Berta Love Fletcher, Walter Lee Love, William Thomas Love, Ben Eddie Love, Jr, and Bobby Alvilla Love. All have proceeded her in death except two sisters: Doris Louise Love Robinson and Mary Love Rooker.

As a Young Girl

The family lived at 709 Darwin Street in Huntsville, formerly known as the “West Side”. While residing on the “West Side”, Daisy enjoyed going to church with her family at Church Street Cumberland Presbyterian church. She attended “Miss Clara Wards” kindergarten and Council High School from 1st through 12 grades. As the first-born daughter, Daisy’s responsibilities at home went far beyond school studies. She performed most of the household chores from cleaning and prepare meals for the family, to canning and storing food. However, her most important role was caring for her younger siblings. Daisy cherished all of them but often spoke proudly that her mother specifically designated her to help raise her brother, Walter Lee, and twin sisters Bertha and Berta who adored her as a mother.

As a Young Woman

Daisy lived with her grandmother, Daisy Capshaw, and attended St Bartley PB Church. Her ambition was to become a “WAC” or Women’s Army Corps. She wanted to be assigned to the Army Air Forces, but her mother would not approve. As a result, upon graduating from Council High in 1956, she accepted a $100 scholarship from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which was full tuition for her first year at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Alabama A & M University). During her second year in college, she earned money on weekends by cleaning houses and babysitting. During the week she worked as a Nurses Aid at Huntsville Hospital.

It was in 1957 while working at Huntsville Hospital that Daisy,19, met Harry Swinton, 25, a student at Oakwood College (now Oakwood University). Harry worked as a janitor at Huntsville Hospital and tells the story of how he was smitten by Daisy at first site; seeing “how she “fancied” like a beautiful stallion, walking through the halls of Huntsville Hospital. For their first date, Daisy accompanied Harry at the Oakwood College United Student Movement Banquet. Daisy said she liked him because he was “very handsome, very courteous, and very respectful of women. His living habits were clean, and he did not smoke, drink alcohol, or chew tobacco.” As a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, Harry shared his faith with Daisy, and without hesitation, she took Bible studies and was baptized. In October of 1958, after dating 12 months going to church functions and events given by the College, Harry proposed to Daisy. She of course said yes, and the couple then drove to Daisy’s grandmother’s house to share the news. After telling her, and exiting her home, Harry and Daisy never forgot how Grandma Daisy could be heard throughout the neighborhood shouting and praise God with extreme jubilation. On December 28, 1958, they married at First Seventh-day Adventist Church on Gallatin Street. From this union, they were blessed with five children. Harry Jr, Jeffrey Lynn, Lorelyn Juanina, Dawna Helaine, and Marsha Lavern.

As a woman of God

Daisy modeled the type of relationship with God that she wanted her children to have. Without fail, she rose every morning about 6 for her prayer, devotion, and study of the word of God. She and Harry began each day in prayer as a family before leaving home. Held full worship services to bring in and Close the Sabbath. Her children could not just attend church, they had to be actively serving or participating in something. Daisy believed in prayer and could discern the will of God. This is perhaps why most of her prayers were answered and often in miraculous ways. Like when her husband was sick in the hospital, quaking with fever. Before doctors could treat him, she held her hands over him and prayed. In minutes, Harry's vitals returned to normal and his body calmed. Harry and Daisy’s marriage was ordained by God and a model of true love. Not only because of their beautiful children, and the loving Christ-centered home they built, but also because God blessed them individually with successful careers. Harry’s work transitioned to Oakwood College and Business. Daisy continued to pursue a career in medicine at Huntsville Hospital. Her extraordinary trust in and connection with God was not only demonstrated at home and with family but also as she served in dozens of capacities at First Church and as she planned for and cared for her patience at Huntsville Hospital.

As a servant of God

Daisy's humble beginnings helping to raise her siblings birthed a love for caregiving. It was the training ground that would prepare her for the exceptional professional accomplishments to come. Nursing was her passion and it allowed her to play a significant role in meeting the medical needs of individuals, families, and communities. From the small beginnings as a Nurses Aid in 1957, Daisy then pursued additional training and became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). But her career continued to be marked by an ongoing commitment to learn and serve. As an LPN, she continued to seek more training, completing her Associate Degree in Nursing, and then receiving her Registered Nurse Certification (RN) in 1975 from Calhoun Community College.

Not long after attaining her RN Certification, Daisy transitioned to caring for the critically ill in the Huntsville Hospital Intensive Care Units. The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) is named in honor of Dr. Peter Yu, a vascular surgeon who held Daisy in high esteem as she collaborated with him and played a pivotal role in the design, organization, and development of policies and procedures for the new area. Daisy served as Nurse Manager for the Medical, Surgical, and Trauma Intensive Care Units and became the first African American to serve as an ICU Nurse Manager at Huntsville Hospital. after working at Huntsville Hospital for 40 years and being the Nurse Manager of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit 18 of those years. She retired in 1997. To date, no one has held this position longer than Daisy.

In 2015, Huntsville Hospital Chief Executive Officer, David S. Spillers recognized Daisy’s legacy with a letter of commendation saying, “Thank you, Mrs. Swinton, for your hard work and dedication to improving patient care at Huntsville. We are a better hospital because of you and are proud to join…in recognizing your contributions."

In 2020, the diversity & inclusion Committee within Huntsville Hospital Systems recognized Daisy as a trailblazer for African American nurses and leaders and is establishing the Daisy P. Swinton Memorial Scholarship Fund honoring her legacy and providing scholarships to minority nursing students and or health care professionals. The Huntsville Hospital Foundation will also memorialize Daisy with a portrait hung in the Hospital’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

Before her death, Daisy was considering renewing her RN license so she could continue to contribute to the field she so loved. However, God decided it was time for her to rest and she was at peace with it. We have this hope that we will see her again in the world made new. Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13

In Daisy’s own words written to her family, she said, “My wish for you is that all of you will keep in a state of preparedness for the return of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I wish you happiness in the future.”

Daisy Swinton’s earthly journey ended on August 10, 2020. She will be lovingly missed by her devoted husband Harry W. Swinton, Sr.; her son, Harry W. Swinton, Jr (Adriene), Houston, TX; son, Jeffrey L. Swinton (Carmen), Charlotte, NC; daughter, Lorelyn J. Swinton, Huntsville, AL; daughter, Dawna S. Baker (Kyle), Madison, AL and daughter, Marsha L. Swinton, West Hollywood, CA. Two sisters: Doris L. Robinson, Huntsville, AL; Mary Rooker, Huntsville, AL. Seven Grandchildren: V. Bryan Cordell, Jr. (Jenette), Hazel Green, AL; Vincent B. Cordell (Jeneya), Modesto, CA; India C. Diggs, New Orleans, LA; Cecil Diggs IV, Columbia, SC; Victor Kirksey, Atlanta, GA; Dajah Swinton, Houston, TX; Langston Swinton, Houston, TX; Alexander Swinton, Huntsville, AL. Five great-grandchildren: V. Bryan Cordell III, Huntsville, AL; Gabriel Cordell, Atlanta, GA; Chase Cordell, Modesto, CA; Khloe Cordell, Modesto, CA; Kash Cordell, Modesto, CA; and Zahara Kirksey, Atlanta, GA. And a host of great-nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

Daisy’s words of encouragement to her family

To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.

-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Memorial Gifts designated to the "Daisy P. Swinton Scholarship Fund" may be mailed to Huntsville Hospital Foundation. 801 Clinton Avenue East, Huntsville, AL 35801. Or made online at www.huntsvillehospitalfoundation.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valhallafunerals.com for the Swinton family.