Mary-Ellen (Swafford) Loveless

Mary-Ellen Loveless, 62, of Athens, died on Sunday, March 13, 2022.

Born in Cleveland, Tennessee to Paul Swafford and Effie McReynolds Swafford, Mary-Ellen graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Mary-Ellen was an executive in the advertising industry for many years, both with Atlanta-area agencies as well as the agency she co-founded.  A lifelong Volunteer, nevertheless her involvement in Delta Zeta sorority during college led her to a role as DZ advisor at the University of Georgia, a position she cherished as a leader of young women. Mary-Ellen was also involved in many patriotic lineage societies, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the United States Daughters of 1812, and the Colonial Dames of America. Mary-Ellen held office in many of these societies, most recently serving as Registrar of the Elijah Clarke chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Those who knew her each have their own, unique “only Mary-Ellen” story to tell, and her friendships were remarkable not only for the depth of affection she inspired, but also the breadth: she charmed people everywhere she went, making friends of all ages around the world.

Mary-Ellen excelled at everything she put her hand to, and her battle with cancer was no exception. Her fortitude was matched only by her relentless positivity, and her example is, like the rest of her life, a model for the rest of us.

Mary-Ellen was preceded in death by her father, Paul Swafford.

She is survived by her husband, Jonathan Loveless; her mother, Effie McReynolds Swafford; and her son, William Coleman Loveless; along with numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 22, at Athens First United Methodist Church at 7:00 p.m. The family will receive friends at the church from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.

A second memorial service will be held on Friday March 25, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home in Cleveland, Tennessee at 2:00 p.m, followed by interment at Fort Hill Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory be made to the Elijah Clarke Chapter, NSDAR, c/o Anne Hurst Weeks, 138 N. Chaparral Ct., Hull, GA 30646; the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Laura Rutherford Chapter 88, c/o Beth Collins, 130 Cherokee Forest Drive, Athens, GA 30601; Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, PO Box 821, Alpharetta, GA 30009, or at angelsrescue.org ; or the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Development Office, 1762 Clifton Road, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322or at winshipcancer.emory.edu .

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA, and Ralph Buckner Funeral Home are charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com and www.ralphbuckner.com