Charlotte Swaim

Charlotte L. Swaim, age 82, of Tuscaloosa, passed away July 10, 2013, at Hospice of West Alabama surrounded by her family. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Matt Kelley officiating. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. in Bethsalem Cemetery in Boligee with Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be Monday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

She was preceded in death by her parents, K.E. and Ruth Livingston; her husband, Mose M. Swaim; her sister, Jackquie Elmore (Dick); her brother, Bud Livingston; and her twin grandsons, John and Sam Adams.

Survivors include her daughters, Mina Adams (George) of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. and Ann J. Briggs (Ricky) of Demopolis; her sons, Forrest L. Johnston (Mitzi) of Gainesville, Ala. and William D. Johnston III (Kristen) of Emelle; her brother, Dr. Bill Livingston DVM (Mildred) of Artesia, N.M.; and her grandchildren, Katie and Matt McKinney, Mina Ruth and Dee Johnston, and George (Tina) and Bo Adams.

Charlotte was born May 29, 1931, the youngest of four children to K.E. and Ruth Livingston of Portales, New Mexico. Charlotte's heart had a special place for New Mexico. She could often be heard singing “Home on the Range,” even in her last days. After graduating from Portales High School, Charlotte fell in love with an Alabama native, David D. Johnston, attending Roswell Military Institute in New Mexico. In 1950 Charlotte stepped on Alabama soil for the first time. Charlotte and David made their home in Tishabee, Ala. as they operated a farm consisting of crops, cattle, and pecans. In 1954 they built a home in Boligee, Ala. and named it “Happy Hill.” Charlotte and David became pilots. In 1964 Charlotte was selected to represent Alabama in the Flying Farmers of America (FFA) beauty contest in Miami, Fla. Winning runner up, Charlotte was crowned “Duchess” of the organization. Charlotte traveled the U.S., with her family, in their Cessna aircraft, representing FFA for one year and writing a monthly article for the FFA magazine. In 1970-1973 Charlotte became an x-ray technician and worked for Greene County Hospital.

Charlotte began art classes at Livingston University and discovered her talent with acrylics and oil painting. In 1977 Charlotte moved to Tuscaloosa and became the owner of the “Bee Hive,” an art and craft store located in the Tuscaloosa Mall teaching art classes. After selling the store she decided she wanted to move near her brother in Florence, Colo. Charlotte worked as a nurse's aide for St. Joseph Manor where she enjoyed working with the elderly.

Missing the South, Charlotte moved to Gulf Shores, Ala. and fell in love with Mose Swaim. Mose and Charlotte married in 1978. Together they undertook a four-year renovation of the Dearing-Swaim home built in 1835, located on 14th Street. The home was restored to the original colors and documented by the Historical Society, was opened to the public and included in the Heritage Week Pilgrimage Tour. Their marriage was a beautiful marriage except for one weekend a year. Mose was “Roll Tide” and she was “War Eagle.”

After Mose's death in 1994 Charlotte built a custom Southern Living home on the outskirts of Tuscaloosa. Capstone Village, a retirement community was breaking ground on their new development. Charlotte became an anchor resident of Capstone, moving into a garden patio home in 2005. In 2010 Charlotte moved into Traditions Way, a dementia/Alzheimer's unit at Capstone Village. Charlotte enjoyed her friends and the loving staff at Capstone Village for eight years. Charlotte didn't walk away from a challenge, had a sense of humor, loved ice cream, enjoyed making delicious unusual birthday cakes, was a gardener, an artist, a pilot, an excellent seamstress, a competitive swimmer, and a water-skier, loved animals, enjoyed her grandchildren, and couldn't say no to volunteer work.

Charlotte was a founding supporter of the Zelpha Wells Foundation and couldn't turn down a charity requesting a donation. Charlotte loved cards and was a member of the Bridge Club, served many years as PTA president, and was active in the Boligee Presbyterian Church and the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa. Charlotte said her main goal in life was for all her children to accept God as their Savior in her lifetime. Charlotte said life's not easy and she said she graduated from the school of “hard knocks.” Charlotte will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Pallbearers will be George L. Adams, Matt McKinney, Ricky Briggs, George R. Adams, Katie McKinney, and Len Pope.

Honorary pallbearers are the staff of Traditions Way at Capstone Village and the staff of Hospice of West Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Bethsalem Cemetery c/o Connie Lashley, 1013 Mesopotamia St., Eutaw, AL 35462.

Condolences may be offered at www.heritagechapeltuscaloosa.com.