Obituary of Gladys Swafford Hitchcox

Gladys "Granny" Swafford Hitchcox, age 86, of Pikeville, TN passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 24, 2018, surrounded by family.  Granny's greatest joy in life was helping others and her most precious possessions were her family and friends.  She loved her career in the Bledsoe County Education System where she treated every child she encountered as one of her own.  The life philosophy that she shared with those children was the same as the words she left this past Sunday for her great grandchildren - "Be the best you can be in all that you do...always be as good a student as possible...and always love the Lord".

  She made her home the gathering place for her children and grandchildren's friends and a countless number of those friends call her Mama Gladys or Granny Gladys. 

  Gladys was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Verner Hitchcox; her daughters, Betty Rains and Charlotte Hitchcox; her son, Clifford Hitchcox; parents, Floyd and Crata Dunn Swafford; brothers, Harold, Curtis, Randall and Delbert Swafford.

  She is survived by daughters, Patty (Bill) Holland, Carol (Perry) Swafford and Sandy (T.A.) Smith; son, Billy Joe (Geneva) Hitchcox; daughter-in-law, Sandra Brown Hitchcox; son-in-law, Bobby Rains; brothers, Dewayne Swafford, J.E. (Wanda) Swafford; sisters, Wanda Thomas and Lucille Wyatt; sisters-in-law, Louise Swafford, Cenia Swafford and Juanita (Benton) Smith; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and a host of friends.

  Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. CST in the funeral home chapel with Minister T.A. Smith officiating.  Burial will be in Granny Ruth's Garden Cemetery.  Online condolences can be made at reedfamilyfh.com. Arrangements are by Putnam-Reed Funeral Home, 1171 Main Street, Pikeville, TN. Visitation will be held Thursday from 5:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. CST and Friday from 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m..