Sister Florence Gertrude Swain was born in Gadsden, AL on July 23, 1931 and lived most of her life in Alabaster and the Birmingham, AL area.

Early in her life Sister Swain worked with the Suburban League in Shelby County on voter registration and volunteered to host visiting teachers impacted by segregation during the Civil Rights Movement.  She worked as a poll worker during elections in Alabaster for many years.  She was a member of the Alabaster A.O.H. Church of God, and later worshipped with Faith Dimension Church.

She is survived by five children:  Mrs. Sharon (James) Todd of Birmingham, AL, Mrs. Karen (Wesley) Robinson of Shalimar, FL, Mrs. Kimberly (David) Stanley II of Atlanta, GA, Mrs. Bronwyn (Kevin) Grevioux  and Mr. Charles C (Tonya) Swain both of Los Angeles, CA; eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral Service will be held Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017 at Faith Dimension Church in Maylene, AL with burial at Liberty Cemetery in Alabaster.

Bishop Rodney Brown – Officiating.

I Am Standing Upon The Seashore

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone. Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.  Her diminished size is in me — not in her. And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone," there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!" And that is dying…

Henry Jackson Van Dyke