Ms. Ida V Swilling

Ida Velma Swilling, daughter of the late Thomas Jennings and Beatrice Binder, was born on January 15, 1937,in the Baltimore City Hospital. She departed this life on July 24, 2025, and entered into eternal rest to be with family and friends that had passed on. She was raised on the eastside of Baltimore, where she received her early education and earned a high school diploma from Dunbar High School. As a little girl, she would do children’s hair in the neighborhood for spare change. Ida decided to attend Weavely Cosmetology School, where she earned her beautician license and went on to start working for Mr. and Mrs. Baker’s Beauty Salon at the Old Town Mall on Gay Street. She continued to work for them for over forty years; finally, ‘in her late sixties, she retired from the salon but she continued to do hair from her home and visit her senior clients who were unable to come to her, Ida loved being surrounded by people she loved; she loved her family and friends, and doing hair. Her greatest love was seeing Jehovah and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s witnesses in June 09, 2007 and served as a publisher of the Good News. She never complained even when she wasn’t able to visit the hall any longer; she would listen to the sermons on the phone or tablet and do her study lessons from her Bible. She would always end her conversations with “I love and pray for you every day. “Ida was a devoted daughter, mother, grandmother sister and friend who will truly be missed. She leaves to mourn her life-long partner, Randolph Patterson, who precedes her in death. Five children: Gilbert, Lete, and Derwayna, two who preceded her in death, Mardrella and Dennis, Three brothers: Robert and two who preceded her, in death, Donald and Samuel, Four sisters: Brenda, Annette, Jackie and one who preceded her in death Constance, Seven grandchildren: Eric, Kelly, Gibert Jr.’ Elijay,Quianna, Tierra, and one who precedes her Kimberly, Seven great-grandchildren: Terrea, Bilal, Hemie, Skylar, Aikerris, Eric Jr., and one who preceded her, Larry Jr., Six great-great-grandchildren. One brother-in-law James Tillert Jr. Ten sister-in law: Eliza and Jackie Jennings, Juanita Tillery and Barbara Isom and six who preceded her in death Jean, Doris, Josephine ,Freda , Florette, and Mackie Two adopted sons, Neal Jackson and Reverend Dr. Hari P. Close , II Two adopted daughters Gwen Close and Sherrell McClain whom they affectionately called Moma. One godson: Leonard Wills Jr. Four special god nieces: whom affectionately called her Auntie, Ruth, Sandy , Shirley and Stephanie and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that she held close to her heart with a smile. She was dearly loved and will be deeply missed.