Rev. Charles Washington Swain, Jr.

Reverend Charles Washington Swain, Jr was the only son of Charley W. Swain and Mable Hardrick. He was born on July 23, 1938 in Vinita, Oklahoma. At the age of nine, he received the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at First Baptist Church in Vinita, Oklahoma. He graduated from Attucks High School in 1956 and moved to Detroit, Michigan where he resided with his sister, Eugenia, to pursue his education. Reverend Swain attended the Detroit Institute of Technology and graduated from Shaw College on the Dean’s List with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and received a Certificate of Completion in Industrial Paint Coating Technology from the University of Detroit. On August 1, 1959, he married Martha Ann Mattison and to this union was born three sons. He furthered his education and pursued graduate degrees in Industrial Business Management from Central Michigan University and Ministry from Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Reverend Swain was gainfully employed by Wrigley’s Supermarket as a Store Manager Trainee, Grosse Pointe Quality Foods and upon graduating from college; he was hired by Allied Chemical as a Chief Chemist. He later worked for Ford Motor Company as a Research Paint Chemist at the body shop and was reassigned to the Production Assembly Plant to assist in Robotics and develop a Paint Test lab. After being reassigned from Ford Motor Company as a Production and Manufacturing Supervisor, he received the call from the Lord to the ministry and he preached his trial sermon at Springhill Missionary Baptist Church on October 5, 1975 with the title, “You Need to Hush.” He was ordained under the leadership of the late Reverend Dr. James E. Moss on December 30, 1979. In April 1980, the Lord put upon his heart to start a church so he organized the Oak Park Missionary Baptist Church in the living room of his home in Oak Park, Michigan with several charter members. He served in the ministry for 33 years. Reverend Swain loved the Lord and was truly a servant of God who loved God’s people. This was reflected through his work at the church and through his membership at the African American Baptist Fellowship and Pastor’s Conference. Because of his love for the community and his passion to serve the young, old, poor and disadvantaged who were un-churched, he founded the Right Road Community Development Association where he served as the Executive Director and was involved with starting a Family Life Center that served hundreds of at-risk people within the community of Ferndale, Michigan and surrounding communities. Under his leadership, he started a food pantry, clothes closet, ministered to the home for the mentally impaired and assisted youth with basic life skills as a means of helping those who could not help themselves. Reverend Swain was a stickler for education. To fulfill this passion, he collaborated with other non-profit organizations with the purpose of creating business partnerships to fulfill a vision of starting a Charter School. Indeed, he fulfilled his motto, “Help Whoever You Can, Whenever You Can and Wherever You Can.” Reverend Swain also believed that “You did not get this far without the sacrifice of those who came before you.” To his credit, he was a member of the American Chemical Society, President of the African American Baptist Fellowship and Pastor’s Conference, Michigan Southern Baptist Convention, Detroit Baptist Counsel and was involved in religious, social and educational programs throughout the state of Michigan. On Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 6:45 AM, he was called home to be with the Lord.

Rev. Charles Washington Swain, Jr.

July 23, 1938 - October 5, 2013