Growing up he lived in Middleton, attending school and playing for the Middleton Tigers. He married the love of his life, Mary Lou Flake, on June 9, 1971 and they raised four children together. He went to work early in life and worked briefly at Dover before starting a career at Western Mental Health Institute in Bolivar. He spent the next 32 years faithfully providing for his family till he retired. Throughout the years, he became a skilled plumber, carpenter, electrician, and gas technician.
Bro. Swinford was a minister of the gospel, born into an era of revival fire. He gave his heart to God, and was filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues, and baptized in the only saving name of Jesus. He pastored Gentry Chapel Holiness Church in Middleton, TN. During those 11 years he was privileged to baptize over 50 people in Jesus Name. He also briefly pastored Zion's Chapel (Ashland, MS), Jesus Name Community Church (Block building) in Walnut, MS. Throughout the span of many years he authored four different mission works to the cities of Grand Junction and Hickory Valley. He spent many years helping establish and working on the building at Soul's Harbor in Walnut, MS pastored by Rev. Jesse Cutrer. After retiring from pastoring he attending Gentry Chapel faithfully until his passing. He was a man of great faith, loyal and giving. Believing up until his death that God had the power to perform a miracle if God chose.
Rev. Daniel Swinford was preceded in Death by his mother, Florence M. McCollum, and father, Thomas Orlando Swinford. He leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Mary Lou Swinford. His children, Michael (Christi) Swinford, Shari (Rick) Brassfield, Angela (Jamie) Hodoe, and Carrie (Steve) Dixon. His grandchildren were many, Channing Green, Riley Embrey, Lakyn Embrey, Jonathan Swinford, Elizabeth Swinford, Emily Swinford, Tyler (Kelsey) Hodoe, Ciera Anthony, Matthew Dixon, Joshua Dixon, Bethany Dixon, and Jonathan Dixon. He was also proud of his 6 great-grandchildren.
He leaves behind his sisters, Helen Gooch from Ripley, MS., Doris Hopkins and Ruby Vanstory both from Ashland, MS., and Linda Adams of North Carolina.
Memorials may be sent to the Gentry's Chapel Roof Fund, P. O. Box 48, Pocahontas, TN 38061.