Donald Swanks

Mr. Donald Swanks, 59, resident of Cape Girardeau, Missouri died Thursday, August 15, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born October 16, 1951 in Cairo, Illinois to Beatrice Williams Swanks of Cairo and the late Marion Swanks. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Melva Swanks.

He was a graduate of Cairo High School Class of 1969. He also graduated from trucking school in Frankfort, Kentucky and was employed by G.G. Barnett Transport, Inc. in Charleston, Missouri.

He was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Future City, Illinois.

Donald had been married three times.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by seven sons, Cortez Swanks of Seattle, Washington, Jamar Swanks of Houston, Texas, Phillip Swanks of Racine, Wisconsin, Jason Edwards of Baltimore, Maryland, Demarcus Edwards of Mounds, Illinois, Lawrence Leal of Louisville, Kentucky and Tyler Swanks of Cape Girardeau, six daughters and two sons-in-law, Sherri and Jeffery Holly and Tessa Swanks of Racine, Ramar Swanks and Olivia Swanks of Cape Girardeau, Crystal Edwards of Mounds and Deiardre and Shairf Irons of Decatur, Illinois, two brothers, Marion Swanks Jr. of Cairo and Michael Swanks of Carbondale, Illinois, four sisters and two brothers-in-law, Doris and John Cross of Cairo, Cheryl Woodson of Marion, Illinois, Carolyn and Donnie Whitaker of Calumet, Illinois and Marilyn Jackson of Baltimore, Maryland, a godbrother, William (Candie) Davis of Chicago, Illinois, his fiancé, Debra Harris of Cape Girardeau, two stepdaughters, Sissi and Nikki of Nashville, Tennessee, 20 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and a host of aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, and many friends.

Friends may call Saturday, August 27, 2011 from 11am until the memorial hour of 12:00 noon at First Central Missionary Baptist Church in Cairo with Reverend Fred Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge, Illinois.