Kay Swayze Alford

Kay Swayze Alford, 85 of Oxford, Mississippi, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, surrounded by her family and prayer went home to be with the Lord on February 3, 2025.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 5, 2025, from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. in West Hall of Waller Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at Oxford Memorial Cemetery, followed by a visitation in West Hall of Waller Funeral Home beginning at 11:30 A.M. until the service begins at 1:00 P.M. in the Chapel with Rev. Jody Schmelzer officiating.

Kay was born February 14, 1939 to Phyllis Finch Swayze and Thomas King Swayze in Cleveland, MS.

Tom coached football at Benoit, MS and later at Moss Point, MS before returning to Oxford with his family in 1947 when he was hired as the South’s first football recruiter at Ole Miss. Kay graduated from University High School in 1957.

Kay’s senior year in high school, she met one of her dad’s Ole Miss Football recruits, Warner Alford. The rest is history. He fell in love with her at that first encounter, but had to wait until she enrolled at Ole Miss before he could ask her for a date.

Kay and Warner’s years at Ole Miss are often referred to as the Glory Days. Warner served as co-captain on the football team that was later named the Team of the Decade. Kay joined the Chi Omega sorority and was a campus beauty. They developed lifelong friendships while at Ole Miss and they continued to have a special bond with teammates and classmates for more than sixty years.

Their beautiful courtship on the Ole Miss campus culminated with their marriage on February 12, 1961. After moves to McComb and Laurel, Mississippi; Davidson, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, they returned to their true love in 1971 – Ole Miss and Oxford, Mississippi. Here they raised their 3 children.

Warner returned to Ole Miss as an assistant football coach and later moved to athletic administration becoming athletic director where he served until 1994. Warner then entered private business and he and Kay moved to Ridgeland, MS. Kay and Warner then moved to Monroe, LA when Warner accepted the position as athletic director at University of Louisiana-Monroe. In 2004, Kay and Warner once again returned to Oxford when Warner was named the executive director of the Ole Miss Alumni Association.

Kay was devoted to Warner, her husband of almost 64 years. She was his helpmate, spiritual companion, champion, friend and support. Most importantly, his strong prayer warrior. Being the wife of a coach, athletic director, and alumni director takes a special person. Kay hosted countless ball game parties in their home for friends and alumni – win or lose. She attended Ole Miss games in every sport for many seasons. Kay routinely accompanied Warner to alumni meetings, sports banquets, and university ceremonies.

Despite her busy schedule, nothing took priority over her relationship with her Heavenly Father after she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior in 1971. She walked with her Lord faithfully for more than fifty years. Kay is survived by her beloved husband, John Warner Alford, Jr., and her legacy of love continues through the lives of their children, Swayze Alford (Melinda), John Alford (Michelle) and Phyllis Daniels (Darrell); and her 7 precious grandchildren: Lilli, Grace (Christian), Grant, Clayton, John Swayze, John Warner and Jude.

Kay knew she was here on His earth for no other reason than to have communion with God and share Him with everyone. She was true to scripture in that she loved the Lord with all her heart, soul, mind and strength. She was a strong prayer warrior. When you asked her to pray about a need in your life, she stopped and prayed on the spot. Kay fulfilled God’s word in Deuteronomy that instructs “to teach your children diligently and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise”. That she faithfully did, as many will agree. Her hope was in Him. He enabled her to “bear fruit in old age”. Her spirit departs this world knowing the best is yet to come.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas King Swayze and Phyllis Finch Swayze. After Phyllis’s death, Tom married Mary Clifton Rhodes on June 29, 1974 giving Kay two sisters for the last fifty years. Kay was also preceded in death by Mary. In addition to her husband, children and grandchildren, Kay is survived by her two sisters Martha Collins and Beth Harris (Mike), and sister-in-law Susan Nichols (Buddy). She is also survived by incredibly special nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given to The Warner and Kay Alford Ole Miss Opportunity Endowment, the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Avenue, Oxford, Mississippi 38655.