HERRIN, Ill. (ABP) – Maurice Swinford, who led the Illinois Baptist State Association for five years until his retirement in 1993, died Saturday. He was 78.
An Illinois native born in Charleston, Swinford began working for the statewide association as its church-development division director, a position he held for a decade until accepting the reins as the IBSA's executive director in 1988.
“Maurice brought some solid leadership to the state when it needed it,” said Bob Wiley, who served as the IBSA's executive director from 1996 until 2001. “People had a lot of regard for him, and it was well deserved.”
“He was a great example of a man who lived by Christian values and principles,” said Keith Stanford, a retired IBSA staff member. “He was dignified, respectful, always caring about people but also always caring about the gospel and the task we had to do together. In other words, he really liked folks, but he insisted that we get the job done. His kindness was not weakness.”
Prior to his IBSA service, Swinford had served as minister to more than a half dozen churches in Illinois and Indiana. After retirement, Swinford continued to serve as an interim pastor for churches. His wife for 58 years, Charlotte, survives him.
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