Bracher "Brad" Swanigan, Jr. was born in Brinkley, Arkansas on March 16, 1958 to Bracher Swanigan, Sr. and Katie L. Swanigan. Brad was preceded in death by his parents, sister Prisella and three brothers Cecil, Calvin and Otha.

Brad was well known among his family and friends as a hardworking, serious, caring and kind individual who was unusually patient and who had the rare quality of listening more than he spoke. Brad was a devoted husband, father, brother and devout Christian who loved working in his yard, restoring cars, fishing and camping in his RV.

Brad graduated from Brinkley High School in 1976, where he played on the varsity basketball team. Following four years of service in San Diego and Hawaii, Brad was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps. Brad then went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Western Michigan University before being appointed to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Lompoc, California; in 2008, he retired as a Drug Treatment Counselor in Lompoc after 21 years of distinguished service.

Lompoc was more than just the place where Brad started his career—Lompoc was where Brad dedicated his life to serving God as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1990, and where he met Sharon Lyday Jackson, whom he married on April 21st of the same year. Brad's deep love for Bible truths and commitment to ministering to the spiritual needs of others led to his appointment as an elder, and Brad and Sharon Swanigan enjoyed their life of service together.

Brad survived four years after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, but fell asleep in death with his wife by his side in Santa Barbara, California on May 16, 2012, at 9:24 p.m. In addition to his loving wife Sharon, those left to cherish his memory include the couple's four sons: Jarvis of Washington, D.C., Jaron of Nevada, Maurice of New York and Charles of Missouri; Brad's brothers Oleather "Jack" (Alice) Swanigan Sr. and Chalmer "Slim" (LaDora) Swanigan of Arkansas, Cleveland "Cle" Swanigan of Michigan, John (Sharon) Swanigan of Georgia, and his sisters Darthulia "Dot" Young, Vester "Vee" Eckwood, and Debra (Thomas) Brunson of Arkansas; Ella Mae (Bobby) Brown, Glendora "Gwen" (Wesley) Caldwell and Melissa Swanigan of Michigan; numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a worldwide brotherhood of special friends.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 705 North 4th Street, Lompoc, California. A catered reception will follow at the Dick DeWees Senior Center, 1120 West Ocean Avenue.

Cremation arrangements are in the care of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.