Danny Swearingen

James Daniel Swearingen Jr., age 73, lovingly known as Danny, was born on December 17th, 1952, in Marianna, Florida, to JD and Rena Swearingen. Marianna was more than his hometown; it was where his roots ran deep and became the place he would go on to build a family and legacy that would carry on for generations. Beneath his sharp business instincts and quick wit was simply a man who appreciated life’s small moments and loved his people deeply.

Danny graduated from Marianna High School in 1970, following his graduation he attended Chipola College before kickstarting his career at JD Swearingen Equipment Company, where he was Vice President of the company alongside his father, JD Swearingen Sr. Together, they built the company into the largest Massey Ferguson dealership in the world. In 1982, Danny set out on his own, founding Swearingen-Lord Equipment Company Inc. with his brother-in-law Buddy Lord, a partnership that would carry him through the rest of his career until retirement. For decades, Swearingen-Lord Equipment Company Inc. served the farmers of Jackson County and the surrounding area, becoming a true pillar of the agricultural community. A legacy that Danny spent his life perfecting.

Danny married the love of his life, Kelly Swearingen, on February 7th, 1976, in Marianna, FL. Together they built a life rooted in family, friends, and endless laughter, managing Swearingen-Lord Equipment Company Inc. side by side. But their greatest joy was raising their two sons, the late James D. Swearingen III and Jonathan Swearingen. Danny found deep contentment in the time spent with the friends who became family, raising boys who would become great men, trips to their family farm in the Sand Hills, the mountains, and the Apalachicola River, and making memories that have outlasted the test of time.

While Danny led a life, he could be proud of in many respects, he found a particular sense of pride when it came to his grandchildren, Taylor, Beau, and Lyla Swearingen. Few could convince Danny to trade his beloved cargo shorts for a pair of swim trunks, but his grandbabies managed to lure him into the pool without fail. In his retirement, he spent countless hours at the pond behind his childhood home, teaching his grandchildren how to fish. He hoped to pass along not just the skill but the art of patience and the value of quality time.

Danny was a jack of all trades and adored by many. He was a sharp dresser through and through, during the work week you could always find him in his “uniform” of a white dress shirt and navy slacks, but on the weekends, his choice was always a white T-shirt and cargo shorts. When he had the time to trade in his can of hairspray for a ballcap, he jumped at the chance. Danny was a devoted family man and an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and spent many of his days outdoors enjoying quality time with his family.

Danny was preceded in death by his parents, JD and Rena Swearingen Sr, and his oldest son James D. Swearingen III. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kelly Swearingen; son, Jonathan (Farrah) Swearingen; grandchildren, Taylor Swearingen, Beau Swearingen, and Lyla Swearingen; sisters, Glenda Swearingen, Joy (Buddy) Lord; nephews, Justin (Amy) Lord, and Jantzen (Marci) Lord; great-nephew, Denton Lord; great-nieces, Abigail Lord, and Ellory Lord; along with many cherished friends who felt more like family.

The world is a little quieter without his laughter and the occasional suspiciously timed joke, but the love, memories, and legacy that he leaves behind will be what carries his family and friends through the years ahead.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 PM Sunday, September 20, 2026, at James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel.