Herb Lee Swain, Jr.

Herbert Lee Swain Jr. (Herb), age 84 of Raleigh, NC died on June 11, 2024 at SECU Hospice House in Smithfield.

He was born in Elizabeth City, NC on November 24, 1939. He is predeceased by his parents Herbert Lee Swain Sr. and Sally Farrell Swain of Chapel Hill, NC and his sister Virginia Swain Peters of McLean, Virginia. Herb and his wife Martha Robinson Swain both attended Liberty High School in Liberty, SC where they met and fell in love. They married on February 19, 1960 in Spartanburg, SC where Herb was a student at Wofford College. Later they moved to NC and lived in the Garner area for 57 years.

He worked for the NC Employment Security Commission as a jobs analyst. After retiring Herb had a small handyman company and later worked at a small used-car lot for a friend.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Robinson Swain; daughter, Elizabeth Swain Hales (Craig) of Angier and granddaughters, Kristen Ess (Chris), Kelsey Hales; great grandchildren, Eleanor Ess and Adam Ess; son, Lee Swain (Tiffany) of Whitesboro, TX; granddaughters, Avery Swain, Alexx Swain, Rachel Vitz (Cody), and Lauren Swain. Also great grandchildren; Harper Vitz, Lainey Vitz, Valentina Swain, Liliana Swain and Lee’s stepson, Christopher Shallcross (Kim) and their daughter, Caitlin. He is also survived by cousins, Edith Humphreys Roark and Jean Humphreys Bawden; brother-in-law, Charles A. Peters and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Herb enjoyed carving Santa’s, Wood Spirits, Ducks, Shore Birds and Walking Sticks in his later years. He also worked part time at a small car lot. Herb despised litter and was known for walking 5 miles along Jackson King Road and picking up trash along the way. A trash removal company frequently passed Herb as he picked up trash and stopped to give him a company shirt to commend him for his commitment to clean roadways. An avid UNC Tarheel fan, he enjoyed watching the football and basketball games.

The family will receive friends at 12:15 PM prior to a Memorial Service on Friday, June 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM.

Southside Church, 299 Carlton Street, Clayton, NC 27520

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association

https://act.alz.org>donate