Mrs. Clara Wicks Swales

January 17, 1940 - September 27, 2019

On September 27, 2019 surrounded by her family, CLARA WICKS SWALES, age 79, passed away peacefully in her home in the Wicks Community of Lowndes County Mississippi. Her death followed a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Dementia, lately complicated by advanced liver Cancer. Mrs. Swales was born in Artesia, MS on January 17, 1940, the second of nine children born to Ellus Edward Wicks, Sr., and Lessie Ervin Wicks. As the child of two educator parents, her education began early and was completed in the public schools of Lowndes County, Mississippi. She was a graduate of Robert E. Hunt High School Class of 1958. Following graduation, Clara chose to leave the familiar surroundings of Lowndes County and enlist in the United States Navy to which she adapted quickly and easily. After basic training, she was selected and trained as a Hospital Corpsman; the equivalent of a licensed practical nurse and provided excellent bedside nursing care to adult patients in military hospitals. This service was followed by a period of emergency room service where she continued to develop skills and sensibilities which were recognized and evaluated highly by her superiors. Eventually, Clara was accepted for and received advanced schooling and skill training as a Radiographic Technologist, excelling in both the academic/technical and practical applications of diagnostic X-ray services and treatments. Her knowledge and competencies were validated and recognized in due course by her certification by the American Registry of Radiographic Technologists (ARRT). After her marriage, Mrs. Swales having satisfied any Navy obligations, decided to exit the naval service in 1966 and join her new husband in the pursuit and development of his long-term Navy career. Her total service was from 1958 to 1966. They were greatly successful in that team effort and proceeded to grow his career and to grow a family as she accompanied him on assignments in Europe, the Pacific Islands, and both coasts of the United States. When the Swales’ returned to civilian life, Mrs. Swales re-embarked on her career as a radiographer. She also completed two academic degrees while serving full-time in top management roles in X-ray Technology in three hospitals in the Metro DC area. She served as Director of Radiology in two hospitals. Following retirement, Mrs. Swales continued to serve her community through substitute teaching, social support service at Contact Help Line and the Loaves and Fishes program, and her Lay Ministry in the Annunciation Catholic Church faith community. However, anyone who knew her would say that her most important contribution was her calm demeanor and her warm infectious smile which was always present. Mrs. Swales was preceded in death by her parents and one son, Timothy Bai Swales, as well as two brothers; Ellus Edward Wicks, Jr., and Felix Moses Wicks. She is survived by her husband, George Aloysius Swales of Columbus, MS, their son Gerald Anthony Swales and granddaughter Alexa Brianna Swales of Naples, FL, and siblings Armie Jean Wicks Johnson, Jacqueline Wicks Bramwell and Ricky Wicks of Chicago, IL. Additional surviving siblings are Vibin Berniece Wicks of Smyrna, GA, Coleman Cornelius Wicks of Marietta, GA, and Essie Lena Wicks Williams of Flushing, NY. The Lee-Sykes Funeral Home is in charge of mortuary services. Funeral services will take place on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at Annunciation Catholic Church, 800 College Street South, Columbus, MS with Father Jeffrey Waldrep officiating. Visitation will be 9:00 AM TO 10:45 AM Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM Interment immediately following at Wicks Memorial Gardens.