Alice Diane Swift Parish went home to be with Jesus on June 30, 2026. Over Diane’s final week in the hospital and in hospice she was surrounded by her loving family before passing away peacefully at the age of 77.
Diane was born on August 14, 1948 to George and Ruth Swift in Nashville, Tennessee. She was the youngest of four siblings (Beverly, Randy, and Mike) and during her childhood she lived in Springfield and Joplin, Missouri, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama. Diane graduated from Huntsville’s Butler High School in 1966.
Diane attended Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee where she met the love of her life Aubrey, who attended Vanderbilt University. Diane and Aubrey were married on March 29, 1969 and celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this year. Diane and Aubrey’s marriage was built around their faith in Jesus and the importance of family. They loved sharing their faith and adventure, serving on mission trips and traveling the world. Diane visited all 50 states and many countries, with a special passion for the United Kingdom and all things British.
After marriage, Diane joined Aubrey in Delaware and finished her degree in elementary education at the University of Delaware. She taught 1st and 4th grades before moving to St. Simons Island, Georgia, where sons Alan and Keith were born. In 1982, they relocated back to the Nashville area, where daughter Kimberly was born. After settling in Franklin, Diane and Aubrey graciously welcomed her mother, Ruth, to join their household, where she lived for twenty years. Their home became a place for her immediate family to stay connected with both their mother and grandmother. This helped maintain close ties with a large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Diane had a God-given love for children. As the youngest of the Swift family, Diane took on the role of aunt as an 11-year-old. She embraced this role and is lovingly remembered by 16 nieces and nephews as always being fully present, either in person or with a note or card showing she cared. As an adult, she also poured her love into babies and preschoolers at church. After the arrival of her own children she became a full-time homemaker, dedicating herself to her children at home and volunteering at their schools, at church, and as a chaperone on mission trips and youth camps. When grandchildren arrived, she was overjoyed to love and spend time with them. Interacting with her children and grandchildren always brought the best smiles to her face. Her energy for that love was evident even when she was suffering greatly from her illness and its treatment.
Diane loved God and His faithfulness. She was a devoted student of Scripture. Her illness brought new opportunities to minister to others via messages on her website and through personal interactions with her physicians, nurses, and caregivers. She would always face tests and treatments with an infectious smile, and ask “What is your name?” She quickly turned every conversation with strangers to the Lord.
Diane loved the outdoors, especially flowers and birds. She made a point to share the joy of God’s creation with those around her. She maintained beautiful gardens at all of her homes, notably full of irises, lilies, and daisies. Diane was artistic and skilled in many crafts. She made clothes for herself, her children and grandchildren, cross-stitched artwork, and recently enjoyed making greeting cards for her family and friends. Diane was an avid reader, both for her personal pleasure, but also taking every opportunity to read to her children and grandchildren.
Diane is survived by her husband, Aubrey, her three children Alan and wife Jessie (Glenshaw, PA), Keith and wife Abby (Nashville, TN), and Kimberly and husband David (Fort Thomas, KY), and seven grandchildren: Sam (18), Maylin (16), Paige (13), Abe (11), Anne (8), Ruth (9), and John (7).
Visitation will be at 1:30 PM on Monday, July 6, 2026, at Providence Church, 2293 S. Rutland Road | Mt. Juliet, TN 37122. A memorial service will follow at 2:30 PM with Pastor Jacob Armstrong officiating. Flowers and gifts may be sent to Providence Church.
In honor of Diane’s love for flowers, we would love to fill the room with floral tributes as we celebrate her life. If you wish to express your sympathy through flowers or memorial gifts, please send all items by 01:00 p.m. Monday, July 6th, 2026 to: Providence Church, 2293 S. Rutland Rd., Mt. Juliet, TN 37122; Phone: (615) 773-7862.
For more obituaries visit our obituaries page.
This obituary was published by Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet.
Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter
