SWANN, MARION KATHLEEN (AGE 80) OF FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND.

MARION KATHLEEN SWANN was born December 22, 1932, in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was the fifth of eight children born to the late Marion Jackson Freeman and Malcolm Freeman, Sr. She so loved her Springfield with many precious memories of her life growing up with her brother and sisters. Marion met and married her life partner of 63 years, Henry A. Swann, Sr., in Springfield. Together they built a loving family in Henry's successful military career. She attended Commerce High School (Springfield, MA) and retired as a store manager for the U.S. Coast Guard. The Swanns traveled the world with their seven children, living in countries abroad, including Japan, Germany and, Panama. She was a faithful member of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, Fort Washington, Maryland, and attended regularly with her family until her illness.

Marion began to enjoy sports at an early age being an avid tennis player. Her unmatched love for sports continued with her sons and grands. She had a special fondness for baseball, basketball, football, tennis and golf. She was the dependable sports mom and cheerleader at practically every game. While husband Henry was deployed, she practiced tirelessly with her boys, throwing and fielding balls to get ready for games. Even in recent years, Marion could be called on to recollect sports history of players, stats, teams, and championships. In her final months, she and Henry spent hours watching events together like tennis opens, golf tournaments, playoffs, World Series, championships, and super bowls.

She was the loving mom, grandma and great grandma at almost every wedding, shower, birthday celebration, graduation. She was the first at the hospital giving family love to nurse loved ones back to health.

Marion was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Malcolm Freeman, Jr., sisters, Shirley Holmes and Jeanne Bass Latta, as well as sons, Eric and Gary Swann.

She will always be loved and remembered by her husband, Henry Swann, Sr., her sons and daughters-in-law Henry Swann, Jr. (Beverly) San Antonio, Texas, Ronald Swann (Wanza) Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Jeffrey Swann and William Swann, Fort Washington, Maryland and her best friend and daughter Candace Swann Stanback (Horace), Suitland, Maryland. Her memory will also be cherished by her grand children, Glynis, Glynda, Henry III (Anika), Bryan, Ryan, Shauna, Gary II, D'Ante, Horace, Jessica and Hassan and her great grandchildren, Evan, Sierra, Ania, Kimora, Gabriel, Bryan II, Lovely and Bryce. She is further survived her Aunt, Lillian Lee (103 years young), Springfield, Massachusetts, and by her sisters, Ruth Mann, Syletta Birk (Soren), Lynda Williams (Percy) and Paula Oliver, together with a plethora of sisters and brother-in-laws, nieces and great, great great, and great great great nieces and nephews, and cousins (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and an abundance of friends far and near.

Services will be held at Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church, 7707 Allentown Road, Fort Washington, Maryland on Monday, August 19, 2013, starting with a viewing 9-11am, followed by homegoing services at 11am. Interment will be held at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, Maryland, at 2pm.