July 7, 1971 – November 3, 2026
Stephanie Harden Swicord, daughter of Debra McKown Harden and Bobby Harden, passed away at Select Specialty Hospital on November 3, 2026 following complications from heart surgery. Stephanie was raised in Cairo, Georgia and Orlando, Florida.
Stephanie attended Southwest Georgia Technical College for dental assisting and the surgical tech program. She also completed her certification at Tallahassee State College for the Phlebotomy program. She completed a Zumba certification class as dance was an integral part of her life. She taught at Fred Astaire Studio in Tallahassee where she met her husband, Wayne Swicord.
Stephanie loved keeping children. She loved playing games, crafting, and cooking special treats with her grandchildren, her niece and nephew and Callie and Baxley. Although she never had children of her own, Nicolas and Rebecca were very loved by her.
Stephanie loved music and going to concerts. Traveling to new places was also something she enjoyed. She used to really love Samantha Brown on PBS, that was her dream job. Being at the beach was one of her favorite places. In her early twenties, you could find her regularly at Cocoa Beach, enjoying the Florida sun.
Living at the lake was also a dream of Stephanie’s. She loved watching the sunsets, and the weather changing over it. She always loved watching the birds from her porch; cardinals being her favorite.
Koda, her little dog, was her special snuggle buddy. He was always underfoot, riding with her on the golf cart or side-by-side, and going with her on errands. He especially loved their trips to Chick-fil-A; she always made sure to get him a treat. Stephanie did get to enjoy him coming to the hospital for lovings; he lifted her spirits on the truly hard days.
She is survived by her husband, Wayne Swicord and their dog, Koda; her stepchildren, Rebekah Howard and Nicolas Swicord (Jordan); her grandchildren, Cole, Trey, Peyton, Emerson; her parents, Debra Harden & Bobby Harden (Peggy); her sister, Shelley Fisher (Arley); her nephew & niece, Alex Fisher (Ciara) and Zoë Fisher; and other special children, Callie and Baxley, whom she also loved dearly. Stephanie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Agnes & Alton McKown and Ruth & Luther Harden; her aunt, Patricia Singletary; and her cousin, Eric Singletary.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 www.stjude.org/donate or Bainbridge-Decatur County Humane Society, 808 Zorn Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817.
The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at The Church on Swicord Farm with Pastor Tim Harrell officiating. Interment will follow at Green Shade Cemetery with Alex Fisher, Nicolas Swicord, Bruce Callaway, Bruce Webb, Arley Fisher, and Colby Swicord serving as active pallbearers. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.bryantfuneralga.com.
Bryant Funeral Home, located at 105 N. Florida Street, is assisting the family with arrangements. (229-246-3321)
