Claude Galbreath Swafford, a trailblazing mother, grand-mother, wife, lawyer and educator, passed away at her home in Jasper, Tennessee on March 25, 2016 at age 90.

Claude was born in Greeneville, Tennessee on December 07, 1925 to the late James Whitfield Galbreath and Pearl Smith Galbreath. When Claude was an 18 year old teenager, she took over the failing family business when the war was devastating it, the manager was stealing from it, and her father, James Whitfield Galbreath, was dying. While salvaging this business, she also started college at Tusculum College; however, she was not content with a small, hometown college.

At the age of 20, Claude Galbreath caught a ride to Knoxville and enrolled, over her mother Pearl Smith Galbreath's objections, in law school at the University of Tennessee. She was one of only two women in her law school class and was part of a distinguished, law school group which included future U.S. Senator Howard Baker, United States District Judge Tommy Hull, and a dashing young Naval Aviator, Howard Graham Swafford, the love of her life for almost 70 years. Claude was unapologetically not interested in the University's football program or any other football program for that matter; however, she never passed a law school she did not like and would have enjoyed attending. She offered opinions often and openly, never censored and totally unedited. She was the high sheriff for her family, and they needed it. And, for her friends, she always had their back. Her faith, enthusiasm and loyalty kept her posse at her side to the end.

She often reminded her children and grandchildren that the University of Tennessee was the greatest land grant university the world has ever known. Her law degree from the University of Tennessee opened many doors for her. She then held those doors open for many others. She was among the first 100 women lawyers in Tennessee.

Two years after becoming a lawyer, with her husband away and activated in the Korean Conflict and pregnant with their first child, she successfully argued her first case before the Tennessee Supreme Court. In her later years, Claude instructed her children she expected to be buried with her active law license in her hands.

While she practiced law, her real passion was improving public education. Claude had a fundamental, core belief that every child, regardless of circumstance, had a right to have an education as good as the education she provided her own children. As a member of the Marion County Board of Education she oversaw construction of several new schools and hand-picked the architects to insure integrity.

Of her 20 years as a member of the Marion County School Board, she served as chair for 10 of those years and was President of the Tennessee School Board Association for 4 years. She was an alternate delegate to two Republican National Conventions and honored as the 1999 Tennessee Statesman of the Year. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the Board of the National Legal Services Corporation. Following 2 terms, she was then appointed by Secretary of Defense to serve on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). She traveled as a three-star general in this capacity.

Claude was married for almost 70 years to Howard Graham Swafford, Sr. She is survived by a son, Howard Graham (Sharon) Swafford, Jr., of Jasper, TN; a daughter, retired Magistrate Claudia Swafford (Bill) Haltom of Memphis, TN;
grandchildren: Howard Graham (Andrea) Swafford, III of Nashville, TN; Shelton Swafford (Patrick) Chambers of Chattanooga, TN; William H. Haltom, III, Nanjing, China, Kenneth G. Haltom, Boston, MA and Margaret Grace Haltom, Charlottesville, VA; great-grandchildren: Kennedy Marie Swafford and Howard Graham Swafford, IV of Nashville, TN, Carson Mae Chambers and Lutealia "Lulu" Chambers of Chattanooga, TN. Additionally, Vicki and Billy Dagnan were like family and loyal caregivers at the end of her life. The family will always be grateful for their kindness and love during the last years.
The funeral will be held on Monday, March 28, 2016 at 4 P.M. at the First Baptist Church of Jasper. In lieu of a visitation, a reception will be held at the Church immediately following the service and the burial will be private.

The family requests no flowers but contributions should be made to the Claude Galbreath Swafford and Howard Graham Swafford Scholarship Endowment at the University of Tennessee College of Law.

Claude G. Swafford will go to her grave with evidence of an active license to practice law with her and grateful appreciation to the University of Tennessee.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.rogersfuneralhome.com.