Lelon was born in a share cropper house a few hundred yards east of Zion Rest Primitive Baptist Church. His remains are buried in a plot overlooking this area where he was born.
He joined Zion Rest Church June 12, 1930; was ordained as a minister July 20, 1946; elected pastor in November 1947 and served in this capacity until his death.
Lelon graduated from Beech Springs High School in 1935; then attended Louisiana Tech University graduating in 1939. He taught at several schools in Jackson Parish: Beech Springs, Ansley, Quitman, Jonesboro. He coached basketball and refereed many games. In 1951 he was appointed mayor of Jonesboro, La and served 7+years. 8 years later he was elected again and served another 2 terms.
Services for Elder Lelon C. Swanner, 83, of Jonesboro were held May 6, 2001 at Edmonds Funeral Home with Elder Jesse Stripland, Elder Hartsel Cayce, Elder Reuben Monk, Elder N. W. Asbell and Elder R. J. Wade conducting the service. Interment followed at Zion's Rest Cemetery.
Elder Swanner died May 4 in Jackson Parish Hospital following a lengthy illness.
Elder Swanner was an ordained minister of the Primitive Baptist Church for more than 55 years. He served several different churches in Louisiana and Arkansas. He served Zion's Rest Primitive Baptist Church in Jonesboro as pastor for more than 50 years. He was a highly respected person both in his ministerial work and in public life. He was a school teacher, principal, and basketball coach for several years in his earlier life, and later held public office as mayor for several years.
Elder Swanner was preceded in death by his first wife Trudie Peel Swanner, his father and mother Jesse and Sallie McCrary Swanner and one great-grandchild.
He is survived by his wife Alta; two sons, Don and wife Mary of Minden and Curtis of Ferriday; one daughter, Lee Ann Hodnett and husband Jim of Wagoner, Okla.; eight grandchildren; three step grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, T. J. Swanner of Jonesboro, Lester Swanner of Bossier City and Joe Webb Swanner of Jonesboro.
Pallbearers were Paul Hodnett, Mark Hodnett, Jerry Hodnett, Huey Massey, Ronnie McBride and Ron Rollins, with Bryce (Boyce) Holden and Edward Kent as honorary pallbearers.
Services were under the direction of Edmonds Funeral Home of Jonesboro.
The Jackson Independent
He joined Zion Rest Church June 12, 1930; was ordained as a minister July 20, 1946; elected pastor in November 1947 and served in this capacity until his death.
Lelon graduated from Beech Springs High School in 1935; then attended Louisiana Tech University graduating in 1939. He taught at several schools in Jackson Parish: Beech Springs, Ansley, Quitman, Jonesboro. He coached basketball and refereed many games. In 1951 he was appointed mayor of Jonesboro, La and served 7+years. 8 years later he was elected again and served another 2 terms.
Services for Elder Lelon C. Swanner, 83, of Jonesboro were held May 6, 2001 at Edmonds Funeral Home with Elder Jesse Stripland, Elder Hartsel Cayce, Elder Reuben Monk, Elder N. W. Asbell and Elder R. J. Wade conducting the service. Interment followed at Zion's Rest Cemetery.
Elder Swanner died May 4 in Jackson Parish Hospital following a lengthy illness.
Elder Swanner was an ordained minister of the Primitive Baptist Church for more than 55 years. He served several different churches in Louisiana and Arkansas. He served Zion's Rest Primitive Baptist Church in Jonesboro as pastor for more than 50 years. He was a highly respected person both in his ministerial work and in public life. He was a school teacher, principal, and basketball coach for several years in his earlier life, and later held public office as mayor for several years.
Elder Swanner was preceded in death by his first wife Trudie Peel Swanner, his father and mother Jesse and Sallie McCrary Swanner and one great-grandchild.
He is survived by his wife Alta; two sons, Don and wife Mary of Minden and Curtis of Ferriday; one daughter, Lee Ann Hodnett and husband Jim of Wagoner, Okla.; eight grandchildren; three step grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, T. J. Swanner of Jonesboro, Lester Swanner of Bossier City and Joe Webb Swanner of Jonesboro.
Pallbearers were Paul Hodnett, Mark Hodnett, Jerry Hodnett, Huey Massey, Ronnie McBride and Ron Rollins, with Bryce (Boyce) Holden and Edward Kent as honorary pallbearers.
Services were under the direction of Edmonds Funeral Home of Jonesboro.
The Jackson Independent
Lelon was born in a share cropper house a few hundred yards east of Zion Rest Primitive Baptist Church. His remains are buried in a plot overlooking this area where he was born.
He joined Zion Rest Church June 12, 1930; was ordained as a minister July 20, 1946; elected pastor in November 1947 and served in this capacity until his death.
Lelon graduated from Beech Springs High School in 1935; then attended Louisiana Tech University graduating in 1939. He taught at several schools in Jackson Parish: Beech Springs, Ansley, Quitman, Jonesboro. He coached basketball and refereed many games. In 1951 he was appointed mayor of Jonesboro, La and served 7+years. 8 years later he was elected again and served another 2 terms.
Services for Elder Lelon C. Swanner, 83, of Jonesboro were held May 6, 2001 at Edmonds Funeral Home with Elder Jesse Stripland, Elder Hartsel Cayce, Elder Reuben Monk, Elder N. W. Asbell and Elder R. J. Wade conducting the service. Interment followed at Zion's Rest Cemetery.
Elder Swanner died May 4 in Jackson Parish Hospital following a lengthy illness.
Elder Swanner was an ordained minister of the Primitive Baptist Church for more than 55 years. He served several different churches in Louisiana and Arkansas. He served Zion's Rest Primitive Baptist Church in Jonesboro as pastor for more than 50 years. He was a highly respected person both in his ministerial work and in public life. He was a school teacher, principal, and basketball coach for several years in his earlier life, and later held public office as mayor for several years.
Elder Swanner was preceded in death by his first wife Trudie Peel Swanner, his father and mother Jesse and Sallie McCrary Swanner and one great-grandchild.
He is survived by his wife Alta; two sons, Don and wife Mary of Minden and Curtis of Ferriday; one daughter, Lee Ann Hodnett and husband Jim of Wagoner, Okla.; eight grandchildren; three step grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, T. J. Swanner of Jonesboro, Lester Swanner of Bossier City and Joe Webb Swanner of Jonesboro.
Pallbearers were Paul Hodnett, Mark Hodnett, Jerry Hodnett, Huey Massey, Ronnie McBride and Ron Rollins, with Bryce (Boyce) Holden and Edward Kent as honorary pallbearers.
Services were under the direction of Edmonds Funeral Home of Jonesboro.
The Jackson Independent
He joined Zion Rest Church June 12, 1930; was ordained as a minister July 20, 1946; elected pastor in November 1947 and served in this capacity until his death.
Lelon graduated from Beech Springs High School in 1935; then attended Louisiana Tech University graduating in 1939. He taught at several schools in Jackson Parish: Beech Springs, Ansley, Quitman, Jonesboro. He coached basketball and refereed many games. In 1951 he was appointed mayor of Jonesboro, La and served 7+years. 8 years later he was elected again and served another 2 terms.
Services for Elder Lelon C. Swanner, 83, of Jonesboro were held May 6, 2001 at Edmonds Funeral Home with Elder Jesse Stripland, Elder Hartsel Cayce, Elder Reuben Monk, Elder N. W. Asbell and Elder R. J. Wade conducting the service. Interment followed at Zion's Rest Cemetery.
Elder Swanner died May 4 in Jackson Parish Hospital following a lengthy illness.
Elder Swanner was an ordained minister of the Primitive Baptist Church for more than 55 years. He served several different churches in Louisiana and Arkansas. He served Zion's Rest Primitive Baptist Church in Jonesboro as pastor for more than 50 years. He was a highly respected person both in his ministerial work and in public life. He was a school teacher, principal, and basketball coach for several years in his earlier life, and later held public office as mayor for several years.
Elder Swanner was preceded in death by his first wife Trudie Peel Swanner, his father and mother Jesse and Sallie McCrary Swanner and one great-grandchild.
He is survived by his wife Alta; two sons, Don and wife Mary of Minden and Curtis of Ferriday; one daughter, Lee Ann Hodnett and husband Jim of Wagoner, Okla.; eight grandchildren; three step grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, T. J. Swanner of Jonesboro, Lester Swanner of Bossier City and Joe Webb Swanner of Jonesboro.
Pallbearers were Paul Hodnett, Mark Hodnett, Jerry Hodnett, Huey Massey, Ronnie McBride and Ron Rollins, with Bryce (Boyce) Holden and Edward Kent as honorary pallbearers.
Services were under the direction of Edmonds Funeral Home of Jonesboro.
The Jackson Independent
Inscription
front: Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.
Wed Dec 24, 1937
reverse: LELON
Life of love & labor in His service
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