" The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"   Psalm 27:1

Vernell Betty Jean Swinton, affectionately known as "Shirley", was the daughter of the late John Swinton, Sr. and the late Mary Lee Rollerson Swinton. Born on January 14, 1958 in the Forty-One Community of St. Stephen, SC, she was the only girl of ten children. On Monday, March 25, 2019, she departed this life at her earthy home and became a member of the Lord's Heavenly Flower Garden.

Vernell was educated in the public schools of Berkeley County School District at Bonneau Elementary School, Macedonia Middle School and a member of Macedonia High School class of 1976.

At an early age, Vernell was confirmed and became a member of Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church. She served faithfully as a member of the Gospel Choir, Adult Choir, and Youth Choir, member of the Adult Sunday School Class, Senior Missionary, Van Committee, Harvest Day Committee and Vice President of the Women of the Church. She was a dedicated and faithful member until her death.

" Shirley", as she was called by many, enjoyed cooking, traveling, singing and shopping. She was employed by Carolina Nursery, Custodian at Tom Myers Headstart, and a Cook at Berkeley Motel Restaurant, Coffee Cup and Mr. B's. Also, she worked as an operator for Berkeley County School District Child Nutrition.

"Shirley" will be missed by her family, church, and in the community. She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers: Jacob Rollerson, Elijah Rollerson and Joe S. Swinton.

She leaves to cherish her memories: three sons Clifton Jermaine (Lakecia) Swinton, Homer "Tug" Swinton, and Marquez "MJ" Swinton of Moncks Corner, SC; six (6) brothers: John (Anna Mae) Swinton, Jr. of St. Stephen, SC, Raymond (Melissa) Swinton of Eutawville, SC, David (Wendy) Swinton, Benjamin (Lisa) Swinton, James Swinton all of St. Stephen, SC and Kendrick (Winter) Swinton of Strawberry, SC; six (6) grandchildren and two (2) great grandchildren; uncles, Ernest Brown of Alvin, SC and Leroy Swinton of New York; grandaunt: Victoria Anderson of St. Stephen, SC; aunts: Dorothy White, Maebell (Willie) House, Rebecca Swinton all of New York and Odessa Brown of Georgia; thirty (30) nieces and nephews and twenty-four (24) grand nieces and nephews; special devoted cousins, Lucretia (Gwen) Varner and Annie Mae Ludd; sisters-in-law: Evelena Wallace, Willie Ester Jones, and Charlene Milligan; special friends, Martha Campbell, Debra Jackson, Dee Franklin, Rosalind and Beverly Pressley, and Susie Patten; and a host of other relatives and friends.