Arnette Swan Obituary

Arnette Lamb Swan received her heavenly wings at 5:03 am on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 just 4 days shy of her 102nd birthday.  Arnette “Net”, born on October 20, 1922, was the 6th child, and 3rd daughter born to the late Reverend Wilson Matthew and Jean Estelle Bassett Lamb. She was born in Claremont, Virginia, received her high school diploma in Charles City County, Virginia and moved to New York with her older siblings following graduation. 

She left New York and lived in Chicago for a few years with her first husband Robbie Fleming who preceded her in death at an early age.  She returned to New York and later married James Swan, which later ended in divorce. Arnette spent most of her life in New York where she worked as a tailor and upon her retirement, returned to her home in Claremont, Virginia.

Net’s retired life in Claremont was active as she cared for her older siblings, became an active member and one of the two “mothers” of the First Baptist Church Claremont – Spring Grove and oh, how she loved First Baptist and her church family! Net was the voice of wisdom to all who were blessed to spend time with her. Often you may not agree with or wanted to hear what she had to say or how she said it, but she always spoke the truth!

She was very proud of her yard work and cut her own grass until she reached the age of 90 plus and decided that she should stop and “not fly in the face of God”!

Arnette was predeceased by all of her siblings and in-laws: Otelia, Judson (Dorothy), Helen (Edwin Sr.), Bassett (Daphne), Alonzo (Phyllis), and Ann (Charles). She was also predeceased by some of her nephews and niece, Wilfred “Freddie”, Judson Jr., Carol, Edwin Jr., and her beloved Gregory.

Left to cherish her wonderful memories are nieces and nephews: Sandra Lamb, Gail Lamb, Ian “Tony” Ellis, Jeanne Ellis Holmes (Ronald), Charles Eric Ellis (Kenya), Judith Robinson, Edwin Robinson III, Tremane Robinson, Nyreen Lamb, Shereen Craig, Darnay Hubbard, Renee Hubbard, and LaTonya Sylvester. She is also survived by a host of additional great nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Special recognition and thanks for wonderful friendships and memories are extended to Connie Elliott, Sue Newby, and Deborah Parham (all of whom Net considered her goddaughters), Shakia Neverson, Deborah Turner and Quinton Jones. Thank you all for being a blessing to Net and being the flowers in her bouquet of life!

A memorial service will be held 1:00 P.M., Friday, October 25, 2024 at First Baptist Church-Claremont, 11342 Colonial Trail W., Spring Grove, VA, the Rev. Anthony Washington, Pastor, eulogist.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the First Baptist Church-Claremont, Spring Grove or Crater Community Hospice.

J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com. Watch the funeral services live online on our J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc. Facebook page.