JOHN MILTON SWANN, SR. (AGE 79) OF ACCOKEEK, MARYLAND.

Surrounded by his family, John Milton Swann, Sr., peacefully departed this life on August 3, 2021, at the Birchwood Assisted Living home in Accokeek, Maryland.

John, affectionately known as "Milton," "Singie," and "Pop-Pop" by his grandchildren, was born in Indian Head, Maryland on March 2, 1942.  Milton was the youngest son of 14 siblings born to the late Godfrey Joseph and Ruth Loistine.

Milton was a life-long citizen of Charles County, Maryland.  As a young child, he lived on the Naval Base in Indian Head until his family moved to Marbury, Maryland.  Milton was one of the first Black altar servers in Indian Head.  He was an exceptional artist and high school athlete in basketball and football. He was educated in Charles County and graduated from Pomonkey Junior-Senior High School with the class of 1960.

On February 23, 1963, Milton was united in Holy Matrimony to his high school sweet-heart, Blondell Helen Bowman.  They were married for over 50 years.  Because of their love, four children were welcomed into their lives and into their hearts.  However, a love as strong as theirs is not limited to children.  From the root of Milton and Blondell's love grew a family tree that includes nine grandchildren whom they cherished and loved unconditionally.  In later years, Milton would cherish his memory of their 42 ^nd wedding anniversary celebration when they traveled with his brother Robert "Steep" and his wife Kim on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas.

After graduating high school, Milton was employed with the federal government at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (formerly known as the Naval Ordnance Station) in Indian Head, Maryland.  During his federal career, he was a Shop Steward for the International Association of Machinists and retired under the position of Quality Assurance Inspector.  Many knew Milton from his part-time career at the local grocery store, A&P, where he worked just as many years there as he did with the federal government.  Customers were always guaranteed a smile and a friendly conversation when you came through his line.  After retirement, Milton worked pumping gas at Grinder's, a local country store.  Regular customers appreciated his kindness, conversations, and friendship, and looked forward to hearing his occasional tall tales.

Milton was a high-ranking member of the John Fitzgerald Counsel of the Knights of Columbus.  He also remained active in sports playing men's softball with the C. C. Hawks (a Charles County Basketball League for Black men), and with the Knights of Columbus.  He also enjoyed gardening and tinkering with cars as his hobbies.  Milton was truly gifted with a "green thumb", and always planted a huge garden every summer.  He was proud of his garden and the many bushel baskets of vegetables he harvested; but more than anything, it made him happy to be able to share this abundance with family and friends.  Over the years, he rebuilt and tinkered with a variety of vehicles.  He rebuilt a 1952, three-window Chevy pick-up truck, and worked with his son, John, Jr., to transform a C&P Telephone Company vehicle into a "cool" 1971 Ford Super Econoline 100 van complete with table, chairs, and running water.  One of his fondest memories of this van would later become the time he took his family on vacation to Disney World in Florida, cruising all the way playing music by Al Green and the Commodores.  Then there was the F-110 truck he decked out with the latest auto details from Trak Auto.  His pride possession was his Pontiac GTO named the "Green Goat," a legend that's still discussed today. Milton also enjoyed fishing and hunting.  He was quite skilled at hunting by bow and arrow and gun.

In 2016, Milton became a resident at Birchwood Assisted Living home.  At this residence, he was revered as Mr. Swann, "The King," and "Swann Security." Milton was security and a foreman at this home keeping track of the comings and goings of visitors and residents, and supervising repairs and renovations.  During these years, Milton looked forward to visits from family and special friends, or a visit from his personal barber, Desailes Woodland.  He fondly looked forward to special holiday and birthday celebrations that guaranteed a visit from his family, and the family of Traci Sellman and Mari Smallwood, who would come toting goodie bags filled with surprises and snacks.  This was a time shared with everyone in the home making crafts and playing games.  Milton also cherished time spent with Winston and Arnetta Datcher who opened their home and their hearts to him on Thanksgiving, Christmas and other special occasions.  He enjoyed many late nights with his buddy and caregiver, Deitrick, watching football and baseball games with late night barbeques.  He was an avid Washington Football and Washington Nationals fan and wore his team's hat and shirt during the games.  On many evenings you could find Milton watching the flow of traffic on Indian Head Highway from his wheelchair at the front door of the home.  With his transition to Birchwood, he never lost his "green thumb." He enjoyed a potted vegetable garden from the home's backyard deck.

Left to cherish Milton's memory are children, John Jr.; Emmagene; Luwan (Alfred); Gina (Winston, Sr.); nine grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; siblings, Lillian Chatman, Robert Swann (Kim), Joyce Terry, Naomi Norde (Michael), Ruth Stanley (Howard).  In addition to his wife, Blondell, and parents, Godfrey, and Ruth, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Ledru, Godfrey, James, Helen, Carter, Emogene, Neale, and Keith.

In honor of the life of John M. Swann, Sr., please consider donating to the Medstar Georgetown Comprehensive Stroke Center

His Viewing will be, 9:00 am, until time of Service, 11:00 am, Friday, August 13, 2021, in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640.  Interment, St. Charles Cemetery, Glymont, Maryland.

On August 13, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., please click on the link below to live stream the service.

Please make sure when viewing the services that the volume located in the right lower corner (where it says "live") on the viewing screen is turned up (the bars should be blue).

The streaming will begin after the final family viewing.  Therefore, there may be a delay before the service appears on the screen. Thank you.

https://www.thorntonfuneralhomepa.com/live-stream

https://www.thorntonfuneralhomepa.com/live-stream