Mrs. Leigh Cox Swain, age 49, a resident of Bath, gained her angel wings and became cancer free on April 7, 2017 at her home.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 2:00 pm at St. Clair’s Church of Christ and will be conducted by Craig Hagen. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Bill Cox, Matt Cox, Steven Alligood, Kevin Newman, Tim Hines, Larry Wayne Jones Jr. and Steven Swain will serve as pallbearers.

Leigh was born in Beaufort County on December 25, 1967, to Steele and Brenda Mayo Cox. She was a 1986 graduate of Bath High School. Leigh then attended East Carolina University and graduated with a degree in Middle School Education in 1990. On July 14, 1990, she married her high school love, Brian Swain. She taught at Washington County Union and P.S. Jones Middle School. In 1996 she joined the staff at Historic Bath State Historic Site, where she had also worked as a teenager, and finished her career there as site manager. She was honored to receive the Historic Bath Foundation Preservation Award for Exceptional Service.

Leigh lived a life full of love and is still an inspiration to all that knew her. Her husband and mother, along with many of her other family and friends, were with her during every step of her cancer journey.

Leigh’s faith, strength and courage have served as a ministry to many. One of Leigh’s lessons shared was, “Promise to thank the Lord today and hug or call a family member or friend you haven’t reached out to in a while. Unexpected things cause joy! The simple slowing down and acknowledgement of God’s provision is surprisingly helpful to our attitude and behaviors.”

Survivors include her husband, Brian Swain; their daughter Brianna Swain; her parents, Steele and Brenda Cox; three sisters, Kami Cox Newman and husband Kevin, Amy Cox Alligood and husband Steven, Reagan Cox Askew; two brothers, Bill Cox and Matt Cox and wife Sarah; father and mother-in-law Elwood and Cecilia Swain; a sister-in-law, Diana Hines and husband Tim; six nephews, Holden Newman, Austin Newman, Mason Newman, Logan Alligood, Dawson Askew, Hayden Cox; three nieces, Kassie Sasnett, Lauren Alligood and Addie Cox.

The family received friends from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Monday, April 10, 2017 at St. Clair’s Church of Christ and other times at the home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Beaufort County Relay for Life, Attn: In Memory of Leigh Swain, P.O. Box 2708, Washington, NC 27889.

You may address condolences to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Swain family.