Lelia C. Swanson, 81years old, quietly departed this life at her son's home in District Heights, Maryland on Thursday, October 2, 2025. She was born May 3, 1944, in Caroline County, Virginia to the late Clara E. Bryant Jones and Howard Lee Jones Sr.  Born and raised in Caroline County, Lelia's life was rooted in faith, family, and community. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and a friend whose kindness touched everyone she met.  She attended schools in Caroline County and graduated from what was then called Union High School in 1962. She married Robert A. Coleman Jr. on April 15, 1965 and from this union were two children Cheryl A. Tracy of Washington, District of Columbia and Kennard C. Coleman of District Heights, Maryland.  Later they divorced and she remarried Larry C. Swanson.

Lelia's early Christian foundation was built at Oxford Mt. Zion Baptist Church where she remained a member of her home church.  She was active and loved to sing.  Beginning with the Little Angels renamed to the Junior Choir then renamed to the Young Adult Choir and today it is the Unity Choir.  As a member of OMZBC she attended Sunday School, was an usher and the pianist for the Junior Choir.  Through the years she sang with many choirs with her recognizable deep alto voice.  She sang with her sisters, The Jones Sisters, also with the Jones Ensemble, singing many years with the Glee Singers at Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Washington, District of Columbia.  Her love of singing in churches continued when she moved to Martinsburg, West Virginia where she played piano for children and sang at many churches.

After graduating from high school she relocated to Washington, District of Columbia in 1963 to gain employment in the big city.  She landed her first job at General Services Administration where she was employed for a short period of time while simultaneously, working to gain security clearance to work at the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, Maryland.  She was successful with obtaining her clearance and worked at NSA over 30 years before retiring; to this day no one can confirm what type of work she performed there.

Lelia C. Swanson leaves to cherish her memory, her children Cheryl A. Tracy (devoted husband Mark A. Tracy) and her son Kennard C. Coleman, her beloved grandchildren, Terron Reeves, Travell Coleman, Asya Crump and Jordan Steele and beloved great-grandchildren Tysin Gaines and Ziggy Johnson.  She was the fourth born of eight children, preceded by death are three siblings Adelaide Ruth Smith, Howard Lee Jones Jr. and Robert L. Jones.  She is survived by her loving siblings Earlene Malloy of Temple Hills, Maryland, Clarence Jones of Richmond, Virginia, Jacquelyn Jones of Washington, District of Columbia, Eulla Thomas of Ruther Glen, Virginia, in-laws are Virginia Jones, Julia Jones, Catherine Jones, Earl Thomas, a forever daughter in law Tonya Reeves and a host of extended family, church members, and friends who loved her dearly.

Lelia C. Swanson will be remembered for her go-get-um spirit and unwavering love.  Her life was a blessing, her memory a treasure and missed beyond measure.