Beverly Arlene Swaney

By | March 3, 2021

Beverly Arlene Swaney, 79, of Jackson, Ohio, passed away early Monday morning, March 1, 2021, surrounded by her family.

She was born on January 22, 1942, in Coalton, Ohio, to the late Arthur and Oleta (Clark) Griffith.

In addition to her parents, Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Swaney; her sons, David Gillum and Ryan Gillum; her grandson, Wyatt Gillum; her sisters, Freda Grant; her brothers, Carl Griffith and Allen Griffith. 

Beverly was many things to many people. She was a mother, a wife, a grandmother, and a sister. However, those words do very little to tell her story. From a young age, she learned to take care of herself along with the skills she would need to raise a family. Skills she would later pass on to her children and her grandchildren. She always had a vegetable garden and canned the bounty of her labors. She worked hard but always had time for her family. In her free time, you could find her crocheting one of her countless afghans or reading a book from one of her stacks of romance novels she had beside her chair. She also thoroughly enjoyed going to flea markets, thrifting, and yard sales. She was an avid Cincinnati Reds and Ohio State Buckeyes fan. She loved to tend to her flowers and watch her hummingbird feeders. She was simple yet elegant; proud and humble; gentle but firm. She was all those things, but this is still not even scratching the surface of who Beverly was.

Beverly is survived by her children, Arthur Gillum and his wife, Jane, of Jackson, Madora Gillum of Fulton, Kentucky, and John Gillum and his wife, Suellen, of Chillicothe, Ohio; her grandchildren, David Gillum and his wife, Tricia, of Greenville, Ohio, Tiffany Gillum of Jackson, Trevor Gillum of Mayfield, Kentucky, Russell Gillum and his wife, Melissa, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Eric Gillum and his wife, Joy, of South Salem, Ohio, Chad Gillum and his wife, Meagan, of Mayfield, Kentucky, Travis Gillum of Ray, Ohio, Jordan Gillum and his wife, Ashley, of Kingston, Ohio, Justin Gillum of Reynoldsburg, Derek Gillum of Jackson; her other grandchildren, Robin Hopkins and her husband, Chris, of Waverly, Ohio, Robert Bennett of Chillicothe, and Emily Bennett of Chillicothe; her 32 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren. Beverly also leaves behind her sister, Doris Brandau of Wellston, Ohio; a daughter-in-law, Dana Gillum of Jackson; and countless nieces, nephews and friends. 

Beverly’s family will be receiving guests on Saturday, March 6, 2021, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Lewis & Gillum Funeral Home of Jackson. Per CDC and governor guidelines everyone is required to wear a mask while indoors and practice proper social distancing.

 Burial, in Evergreen Cemetery in Leo, Ohio, will be held at a later date.

The family expresses its heartfelt thanks to the staff of Adena Hospice for the loving care they gave Beverly over the past year. It would be appreciated if memorial contributions could be made to Hospice of Adena, 2077 Western Avenue, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601.

Beverly’s family has entrusted Tribute Funeral Homes, Greenville, Ohio, and Lewis & Gillum Funeral Home with her final arrangements.  Online condolences may be shared with Beverly’s family by visiting www.lewisgillum.com