Betty Jane (B.J.) Swafford

Betty Jane Odom Swafford (B.J.) was born and reared in Jackson, MS; she was the daughter of Mary Jane (Janie) Lee Odom and Alfred Watson Odom. She married Thomas Julian Swafford and they reared three children, Stephen Thomas, Stacey Watson, and Stephanie Lee in Kosciusko, MS.

Mrs. Swafford loved her church and community and worked tirelessly in both areas. She was a member of Kosciusko First Baptist Church where she served as Church Outreach Leader and a member of the Steering Committee of Together We Build and Rise Up and Build. She served as Chairman of the Stewardship and Nominating Committee several times and served as a member of a number of other church committees. She belonged to the sanctuary choir and loved her “girls” where she taught youth in Sunday school for over 40 years. She was an organizing member of the Banner Committee and made the first banner for the church.

In her community Mrs. Swafford organized the Kosciusko Teen Club and was charter Vice President of the Kosciusko Jr. Auxiliary and then President and Life Member. The Kosciusko Junior Auxiliary honored her by selecting her as Queen of their Charity Ball. She was a member of the Fun and Flowers Garden Club and served as President and as a member; she received numerous flower show awards. Mrs. Swafford was organizing secretary of the Mid- Mississippi Arts Council and later President and during her term, she organized the Natchez Trace Singers. Mrs. Swafford served as Chairman and member of the Board of Directors of Kosciusko-Attala Historical Society as well as serving on the Advisory Board of the Mississippi Historical Societies. Mrs. Swafford was a member of the Samuel Hammond Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution where she served as Regent of her Chapter and State Chairman and State Officer for the Mississippi Society.

Mrs. Swafford owned Everyday Etiquette where she was a certified wedding consultant and etiquette teacher. She conducted weddings over central Mississippi and the Memphis, Tennessee area. Mrs. Swafford authored the book, “What to Do ‘till I DO” and wrote etiquette articles for magazines and newspapers all over the state. She enjoyed teaching etiquette seminars to Miss. State and Ole Miss Fraternities and sororities along with the MSU Basketball teams.