Surrounded by his loving family, Donnie Ray Swails, at age 90, left his earthly life on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 at Richmond Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Hamlet, North Carolina.
Donnie was born Nov. 29, 1934 in Richmond County, a son of the late Claude Cecil Swails and Elma Mae Anderson Swails.
He was owner and operator of Swails Shoe Service in Richmond Plaza Shopping Center in Rockingham for many years.
Donnie loved Southern gospel singing and throughout his adult life he has sung with several groups, the latest with his brothers Horace and Jerry. They recorded several CDs and sang across North Carolina and other states.
In addition to his parents, Donnie was preceded in death by his loving wife, Imogene Swails; daughter June Swails Cox; son Gary Swails; stepdaughter Sonya Scott; brothers Cecil Swails, Roy Swails, and sisters Faye Webb Boger and Retha Ratliff.
Donnie is survived by his brothers, William "Bill" Swails (Johnnie), Horace Swails, Jerry Swails (Janice); sister Ruth Black (William); son Ronnie Swails (Kathy); stepdaughters Kathy Ragan (Eugene), Sylvia Hinshaw (James); and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held from 12:45–1:45 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025 at Carter Funeral Home in Rockingham, followed by a funeral in the chapel at 2 pm. Burial will be held privately.
The family would like to thank the staff at Richmond Pines Healthcare in Hamlet and Cardinal Hospice for the loving care they gave to Donnie. A special thanks to Hospice nurse Chaise Greene who has been a blessing to us.
Condolences may be made online at carterfuneral.net.
