December 26, 2024, 81, Mount Olive —

Elsie Hodges Waters Swinson, 81, long-time resident of Mount Olive, passed away Thursday night, December 26, 2024, while a patient at UNC Wayne Hospital in Goldsboro.

Born in Newport News, Virginia, Mrs. Swinson grew up in little Washington, N.C.  She had been employed at Southern Bank in her earlier working years, followed by a tenure of service with an insurance agency.  She earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Wayne Community College, and completed her working career as a registered nurse with what was Medical Park Nursing Center in Mount Olive, which was SunBridge Nursing Center at her retirement.

Mrs. Swinson was preceded in death by her first husband, Cecil Donald Waters; her second husband, Charles “Charlie’ Weldon Swinson; a grandson, Kevin “#9” Wise; her parents, Walter Hodges and Elsie Virginia Hazzard Hodges; and a toddler sister, Carolyn Hodges.

She is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Waters Wise, with whom she shared her home; a son, Donald Lee Waters and wife, Colleen, of Florida; step-daughters, Teresa Swinson Thigpen and husband, Steve, of Calypso, and Laura Swinson Skinner and husband, Dwayne, of Mount Olive; grandchildren, Trey Pate and wife, Kelli, of Grantham, Dustin Waters and wife, Melissa, of Florida, Mitchell Thigpen and wife, Noelle, of Mount Olive, Corey Thigpen and companion, Krista, of Mount Olive, and D. J. Skinner, Morgan Skinner, Charleston Skinner, and Chase Skinner, all of Mount Olive; three great-grandchildren,  Savannah Pate, Elli Thigpen, and Waylon Thigpen.  She also leaves behind a sister, Judy Griffin and husband, Alton, of little Washington, NC

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 30, at 2:00 p.m. by the graveside in Maplewood Cemetery.  The family will receive friends prior to the service at the funeral home, from 12:00 Noon until 1;30 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Wayne County Nursing Foundation, a local animal shelter/rescue, or to the charity of one’s choice.