Heath Swinney

Gerald Heath Swinney, 47, ran into the arms of Jesus on Monday, November 26 at his home in Jonesboro. Heath was born on April 23, 1971, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Clovis and Janice Dory Swinney, while Clovis played football for the New Orleans Saints. Having lived in Jonesboro, Hot Springs, Lit-tle Rock, Scottsdale, Arizona, and Paragould, Heath moved permanently to Jonesboro six years ago. Being talented in so many art forms, Heath defied the odds and had a career as a Color Analyst in the printing and inks profession, before Muscular Dystrophy began to wreak havoc on his body and an accident totally disabled him.

Diagnosed at the young age of 10 with Muscular Dystrophy, Heath battled that disability the remainder of his life yet never allowed it to take away his beautiful smile and his great sense of humor. Heath enjoyed life to the fullest and he had a huge heart for others. A big sports fan, Heath enjoyed all sports but he remained loyal to New Orleans Saints football whom he dearly loved as well as St. Louis Cardinals baseball. He enjoyed driving fast cars and later had an inter-est in building and racing RC cars, building model cars and boats, hunting, fishing watching tel-evision and movies, and spending time with his family and friends of which he had many.

In addition to his grandparents, Charles and Christell Dory and Stanley and Nella Swinney, Heath will be joining his Aunt Ruth Swinney Bratten and cousin Jill Maxfield Lawson where he will no longer be restricted but rather jumping for joy. Heath is survived by his son Dalton Cade Swinney of Paragould, his father Clovis Swinney of Jonesboro, his mother Janice Dory Swinney of Denton, Texas, his sister Jill Allyson Reed (Randy) of White Hall, and his fiancé Cherry Carroll of Jonesboro. Other survivors include his aunt Rhonda Thomason, two uncles Russell and Marguerite Dory and Chuck and Barbara Dory, a nephew Hunter Reed (Lacey), two great nephews Levi and Christian Reed, four cousins Katie Thomason, Tracy Dory Smith, Jan Maxfield Roberts and Jeff Maxfield as well as several second and third cousins whom he loved and who loved him.

A Visitation Service will be Friday, November 30, at Emerson Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 pm with funeral service and burial private.