DeLisa Ann Swagerty departed this life on February 17, 2021 to join her mother, Pastor Geraldine Swagerty in the open arms of Jesus.
The sun rose and the world welcomed DeLisa on August 15, 1956, a day the world became a little brighter. DeLisa lived a compassionate and warm life, filled with love and happiness. She will be fondly remembered and sincerely missed.
DeLisa gave birth to two sons, Judah “Kochies” Swagerty and DiMin’go Hale, and she loved them dearly. She worked in sales while returning to complete her G.E.D., and later enrolling in Northeast State Community College to pursue her associate degree in Business Administration and completing course work in that field of study.
She was an entrepreneur by heart. During this time, she started selling t-shirts and other apparel items in flea markets, on street corners, and from the trunk of her car. She would soon partner with her mother, the late Pastor Geraldine Swagerty, and they would both open their first store front selling apparel, gift novelty items, and decorative flower arrangements in downtown Kingsport, Tennessee.
Through her dedication and ambition, DeLisa would go on to help her mother, Pastor Geraldine Swagerty, create and establish the Kitchen of Hope in 1996. She would play a major role in successfully helping to start this iconic movement for feeding the people of Kingsport. Although the vision for the kitchen was first set by Pastor Geraldine Swagerty, it was through the determination of DeLisa that the Kitchen of Hope came to fruition. To date, the Kitchen of Hope averages about 155 daily attendees, with approximately 120 volunteers and serving 3,700 hot meals to those in need.
She was devoted to serving her community and was a member of Full Gospel Mission Church, the same church her mother founded in Kingsport, Tennessee. She was also a member of CORA, a local member association to help promote social justice in the local region. She opened her home to countless of people who needed shelter, from family and friends to the homeless on the street. She loved being of service to others.
DeLisa Swagerty was a truly kind person who was a great listener and loved mentoring and consulting people on living life with joy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny and Geraldine Swagerty; nephews Lawrence T. Myrick III and Laquan Hayes, uncle Bobby “Tuggy” Smith, and Aunt Carolyn Maxwell.
She leaves to cherish her memory her sons DiMin’go (Sara) Hale and Judah Kochies (Evelyse) Swagerty, her sisters Letitia (Edward) Hayes, Camellia Swagerty, Johnnie Mae Swagerty, and Angel Blye all if Kingsport, TN; 10 grandchildren to include Judah L., Elijah, Kyree, J’Zyah and Maia Swagerty; Malachi, Madisson, Micah, Moziah, and Major D. Hale; along with a god-grandchild Jazlyn Dorton and god-sisters Sarojini Jahangir and Glenda Vaughn; god-sons Marc Aples and Thomas Jahangir; and god-brother Buford Early all of Kingsport; along with a host of loving family members and friends.
DeLisa Ann Swagerty will be greatly missed by those who knew her and can bear witness to her love and kindness for many.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Swagerty-Hale Family by visiting the link https://bit.ly/help-delisa-donate
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday February 27, 2021 at 1:00pm from the Central Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 12:00pm until the hour of the service. There will be no burial of the beloved departed.
Professional services and care of DeLisa Ann Swagerty and family are entrusted to Clark Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service Inc. (423) 245-4971.
