|
The Preacher’s Corner
By Rev. Dr. Milton Winter Frank Swords – a life well lived  | Photo by Sue Watson
Frank Swords’ funeral cortege on Wednesday, August 29 |
We
gathered at Marshall Academy last Wednesday to pay tribute to Frank
Swords. I said then it was the first funeral I had ever been part of
where the minister and pallbearers had an actual discussion whether we
should wear dark suits or overalls! There was lots of teasing about
this by subsequent speakers, but it all underscored the fact that we
were there to mark the life of a much-beloved person in the life of our
town. People did not expect me to give the usual “Dearly beloved” meditation over Frank Swords. How stuffy and boring that would be! If
I were to choose a Bible verse to describe Frank, it would be the
exhortation of Jesus, from his Sermon on the Mount: “But when you give
alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so
that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret
will reward you.” Frank was so modest, he would
have blushed at this quotation, but when we die people do remember and
reflect upon our lives, and this theme has recurred often as I have
discussed Frank with his friends and family since his passing. It makes
you feel good to think of a life well lived. Preachers
sometimes have to scratch around to find something good to say about a
deceased person, and we ought to think about what material we are
giving the preacher to work with when we die. Frank left no shortage of
inspiration, and I had to move quickly to cover what needed to be said. First
of all is his family, for above all else Frank loved Vicki, his wife of
32 years, and his six daughters: Vicki Jo, Cindy, with her husband
John; Mandy, with her husband Doug; Amy, with her husband Perry; Holly,
with her husband Kyle, and Leslie. And his grandchildren: Dana,
Sterlin, Josh, Michael, Juston, Eva and Grayden. There
is his brother Phil and sister-in-law Debbie, and I must mention his
parents, for in the years after his father’s death, Frank was devoted
to his mother. Frank came from modest beginnings
— not unlike many here in Holly Springs. He went to school, he worked
hard, and he enjoyed phenomenal success. Things we take for granted
like home alarm systems and water purification devices were things he
helped make household staples. But unlike so
many whose heads are turned by their success, Frank did not seem to
need these things to validate his ego or to inflate his personality. He
cer tainly did not — again as so many do —seem to need to protect what
he had, so as to become protective and grasping. He did not need to put
down others to justify what he had achieved. Frank’s
list of charities was immense. He loved M.A., and donated land for its
athletic fields. He gave money for players’ uniforms, for sports travel
and meals. He donated substantial sums for the teachers’ fund for
Christmas bonuses and pay raises. He helped pay for new additions to
the school and for a new roof. He supported the school also by his
presence. He just loved to watch a good ballgame, and he was here. He
also did not mar the sportsmanship by grumbling at the referees’ calls
or calling out to the players and coaches. He also supported the sports programs at area public schools, and this was acknowledged at his service last Wednesday. Frank
was generous to a lot of people both in Marshall County and beyond.
Some whom he helped never knew that he was the source of their
assistance, and that was just the way he wanted it. Frank
was a quiet, behind the scenes type of helper, who did not “let his
left hand know what his right hand was doing.” We can thank him by
doing the same sorts of things for others as we are able. Now I want to talk about Frank’s fun side. A
couple of Sundays ago I was talking with my Sunday school class about
Jesus’ saying that “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back
is fit for the kingdom of God,” and we all chuckled at that, as the
reason we know anything at all about such a saying is because of Frank
Swords’ Field Days! My, Frank did love his
horses, and all the different kinds of wagons, carriages, and farm
equipment he collected. At his funeral there was probably a bride or
two, as well as some Pilgrimage Queens, who rode to their receptions
and Pilgrimage events in one of Frank’s elegant carriages. And
I have to mention his friend Vernon Stroupe, Frank’s co-worker in all
this, and also his friend and business partner George Poteet, who
collects antique cars — a nice compliment to Frank’s animal-powered
vehicles. Last Pilgrimage the Memphis Boys’
Choir came to Holly Springs, and I asked Frank if he would bring one of
his wagons and give them a ride after they sang. I was a little fearful
that these city children might be skittish around the big team that Mr.
Stroupe brought over, but the boys quickly took to the big, gentle
horses and were petting them. I overheard one of these urban youngsters
saying to his friend, “These horses sure smell funny!” Not
everyone will know that Frank had a good voice and loved to sing. He
was a huge fan of Willie Nelson, and he and Leslie liked to team up for
a duet on Nelson’s “You are always on my mind.” There
are hilarious stories about Vicki and Frank. Everybody here knows about
the time Frank accidentally drove off and left Vicki at the service
station en route to Destin, or the time Vicki walked past Frank’s chair
in the darkened movie theater and sat down by another gentleman who
looked like Frank and started shoving popcorn and cola in his
direction! We remember these tales because Frank was such a wonderful
storyteller. All things endeared this kind and
gentle man to us. He was a remarkably secure and self-possessed person.
Though they were many, he wore his achievements lightly. The fruits of
his faith were shown by what he did and, for me, that is the only kind
of religion that matters.
|
