Ann Hammond

Services for Retha Ann Swint Hammond, 83, of Tyler, Texas, will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Kevin Willmott officiating under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until just before 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. at Tennessee Cemetery near Timpson, Texas. Ann was born on April 9, 1940, in Gary, Texas, the daughter of Llewellyn Swint and Zella Lee Hutchison Swint. She went home to be with the Lord on September 2, 2023. She is survived by the love of her life, Robert Hammond and daughters Danna Crawford and Tamara Basco. Her sons-in-law are Ernest Crawford and Eric Basco. She has 5 grandchildren: Amanda Carnwright, Jessica Morman, Zachary Porowski, Matthew Porowski, and Vallen Basco. She has 2 grandsons-in-law, Kevin Carnwright and Cole Morman. She has 1 granddaughter-in-law, Kelly and includes Nick Richardson as a grandson as well. She has 6 great-grandchildren: Kaydison, Tynlee, McKenna, Elliot Payge, Tucker, and Knox. She really loved these great-grands! She is also survived by her sister, Mavis Ware. We are honoring her by wearing red (her favorite color) and brightly colored clothing. She hated attending sad black-swathed funerals with people focusing mostly on the sadness of loss. Instead, she spoke of wanting her funeral to be a celebration. She encouraged us to be bold enough in the Lord to be happy for her, understanding that though she would no longer be with us, she would be in the presence of Our Father. And, oh what joys await each of us once we are there. This is not a day for goodbyes, this is a day for “until we see you again”. She was to many of us, our very best friend. She had a way of making you feel special and she was never judgmental, but rather she was always encouraging and uplifting. You could count on her to be a well of wisdom when you needed guidance. And, she would give you a swift kick in the rear if you were in need of it. But whatever your need, you could always count on her. That is a gift. She was a gift. She was kind and generous and compassionate. She was our very own year-round Nana Claus poised daily to spoil us with love and her thoughtful gifts that let you know she was really listening to your spoken wants and needs. Her surprises were the best! She loved her family with the fierceness of a lioness and she made sure that each one of us learned to be survivors. She showed us how to accomplish it by her own example. She was assured in the Lord and his promises. She faced all adversities without fear. She trusted Father completely. She was not a quitter. She was a fighter. We were stunned that Father called her home. There is a hole now...that can never be filled. But we will honor her by surviving and living our best lives possible. Please take to heart a few things she insisted to us....never go to bed angry, say you are sorry and/or find a middle ground. Speak love now...never take tomorrow for granted. If you don't know Father...seek him...without him there is no way to navigate this world. Trust Father...there is no safer place to be. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalms 91: 4 She always told us that Father had his feathers wrapped around her. She would smile with happiness and satisfaction. And that was her peace.

Ann Hammond

April 9, 1940 - September 2, 2023