Mrs. Sylvia Jean Sword Kennedy, age 73, of Honaker, Virginia, passed away Sunday (August 2, 2020) at her home. Born April 17, 1947 in southwest Virginia, she was a daughter of the late Charlie Burke and June Elizabeth Justice Sword. She had lived most of her life in the area and was a member of the Highway Abundant Life Church. She had served as an Evangelist for many years, had a love for Jesus and enjoyed witnessing to others about the Lord. She liked to fish, attend church, and spend time with her family.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by daughter-in-law, Frances Litschert Kennedy, one brother, Wilmer Burke “Bud” Sword, and one sister, Shirley Farley.
Survivors include her husband of 53 ½ years, Jim Kennedy of the home; two sons, James Mickel Kennedy and wife, Stephanie of Honaker and Ricky Allen Kennedy and wife, Janet of Church Hill, Tennessee; four grandchildren, Mickel Seth Kennedy, Clifford Allen Miller, II, Sierra Jean Kennedy, and Matthew Austin Kennedy; great-grandchild, Riley Grace Miller; two sisters, Linda Cottingham, Gail Compton and husband, Roger; brother, Ronnie Sword and wife, Linda; sister-in-law, Lois Sword; special friends, Paul and Debbie Wilson; several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM Thursday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, Virginia with Revs. Seth Shortridge and Debbie Wilson officiating. Entombment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Highway Abundant Life Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 2074, Lebanon, VA 24266.
Relatives and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers will be Matthew Kennedy, Gary Simerly, and Col Seyi Abioye.
The family will receive friends after 6:00 PM Wednesday at the Honaker Funeral Home where an evening service will be conducted at 7:00 PM with Rev. Jerry Ward officiating.