Ruby Louise Hawthorn Swanigan passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2015, in Pine Bluff, Ark. She was born in Hot Springs, Ark. on March 26, 1942, to Guy and Ella Hawthorn. Ruby was the youngest girl of 15 siblings. On May 24, 1970, she married Richard A. Swanigan and together they had four children. Ruby held many different jobs over the course of her life but she took great joy in her work in prison and deaf ministry.
Ruby is survived by her husband of 45 years, Richard Swanigan; daughters, GyElla Hinton and her husband Jess of Brandon, Miss., LaVona Traywick and her husband Deano of Benton, Ark., Nancy Stephens and her husband Joshua of Louisville, Ky.; son, Nolan Swanigan and his wife Debbie of Fort Worth, Texas; seven grandchildren, Austin, Carter, Caleb, Luke, Ella, Julie, and Julia; sisters, Nina Langley of Pine Bluff, Ark., Bernice Bewley of London, Ark., Grace Koller of Texarkana, Ark.; brothers, Doyle Hawthorn and Richard Hawthorn of Hot Springs, Ark., Dan Hawthorn of Lowell, Ark., JD Hawthorn of Bentonville, Ark., Grady Hawthorn of Sims, Ark. and Gilbert Hawthorn of Sparkman, Ark.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Ella Hawthorn; her brothers, Elmer Hawthorn, Glen Hawthorn, and Don Hawthorn and her sisters, Elizabeth Kelly, and Pansy Hawthorn.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 11 from 6–8 p.m. at Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Home in Pine Bluff, Ark. The funeral service will be Friday, June 12 at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Ark.
Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, 1801 West 17 Street, Pine Bluff, Ark. 71603 or Gideons International at www.gideons.org.
Online register at www.ralphrobinsonandson.com