William Rupert Swain died in the Lord on October 18, 2021 with his family at his side.
Born to Rupert and Bernice Swain on July 24, 1938, “Bill” was a native son of Jacksonville, Florida. He graduated from Landon High School in 1956 and went on to attend the University of Florida, where he earned his BA (1960) and JD (1964). Bill proudly served his country as a US Marine from 1960-65 and afterward led a distinguished career as an attorney. Bill married Lynn Baker in 1968; together they raised three children.
Upon his public profession of faith in 1950, Bill became a member of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for over 50 years. He faithfully participated in the church’s weekly evangelism program, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ from door to door across the city.
Bill is survived by two siblings: Ray Swain (Connie) and Cynthia Miller (Jay) of Gates, Oregon; three children: Scott Swain (Leigh) of Orlando, Florida, Stephen Swain (Jessica), and Sarah Morgan (Jonathan); and eight beloved grandchildren: Caroline, Sophia, Josiah, and Micah Swain of Orlando, Zachary and Ava Swain, and Noah and Riley Morgan.
Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church on October 28, 2021 at 10:00am, followed by a memorial service at 11:00am, with Rev. Calvin Carr presiding. A private committal service will follow later that afternoon at Evergreen Cemetery.
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Cousin Bill will be missed by all of us. Growing up in the McMahan extended family, Bill was always there with his sense of humor and disarming intellect to keep things light but on track. One of my fondest memories of Bill was the time he, his brother, his uncle and father decided to move the outhouse at our lake cabins east about 10 feet as the hole was getting full. When all was ready, each of the above took up position on one side of the outhouse and lifted it up, moving towards the east and the new hole. Bill, the extremely scholarly college graduate, law student and Marine recruit took the west side. After moving about 3 feet, Bill let out a bloody scream for his brother, father and uncle to save him inasmuch as he was hanging by his fingertips from the roof of the outhouse over the old hole. His younger brother grabbed him around the waist and saved his dunking. Bill’s love of life, his God and family were an example to all of us and I will miss him.
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