Jacqueline Guard

Jacqueline (Jackie) Swicegood Guard, age 92 (August 28, 1931 - November 16, 2023), died peacefully at home after a rapid decline in health. Her parents were Brownie Peacock Swicegood and Boyd Alan Swicegood, and she has a much-loved surviving sister, Shelley Hobbs. She was raised in the Moravian faith. Born in Winston-Salem, NC, Jackie grew up in Greensboro, NC where she graduated from Greensboro Senior High.

Jackie was married to Colonel Bruce Colonna Guard for 65 years, who predeceased her March 25, 2016. Jackie is survived by 5 children (Bruce [Amy], Boyd, Jean, Mark, and Eric). She has eight surviving grandchildren born to: Bruce and Amy, Andrew and Jordan Guard; Boyd, Jacob Guard; Jean, Jessica Marchand and Stephanie Petter; Mark, Matthew Guard and step-grandchildren Vincent Martin and Rachael Bubnov. Great-grandchildren are Marco (Jessica and Arturo Marchand), Olivia (Jordan Guard and Brigit Baran), and Isaiah and Valerie (Diana and Andrew Guard). Jackie is also survived by nieces Beverly Fuller (Bobby) and Kim Hageman (Rick). Jackie has many surviving cousins from the Swicegood lineage of Lexington, NC. Close family members are sisters-in-law Rosemary Winkler (Skip) and Nancy Guard (Joe). Family friends who attended to her during declining health include Bonnie McNay and Jean’s partner John Robinson. Jackie is sorrowfully predeceased by two grandchildren: Mark Everett Guard, II, age 34 (d. June 20, 2021) and Hilary Ann Petter, age 32 (d. October 18, 2022), Jean’s daughter.

Jackie and Bruce had a dynamic marriage that enabled Bruce to rise to the rank of Colonel in the NC National Guard. In addition to raising five children, Jackie worked as a secretary for Burlington Industries, the First Moravian Church in Greensboro, NC, the INCA corporation, and as an executive secretary for Nationwide Insurance. Behind the scenes, Jackie greatly enabled Bruce’s professional career and volunteer activities using her organizational skills. Most memorable were the countless hours she spent working with Bruce and son Eric on the largest Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony of the Southeast in Thomasville, North Carolina

Jackie made friends wherever she lived, which included Greensboro, Cary, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem, NC, as well as Buffalo Junction, VA and Athens, GA. She and Bruce traveled to many countries with friends and enjoyed sharing their adventures with all. Jackie will be remembered for her happy marriage, the parties she arranged, the friends she made, and the children she raised. The family will hold a private memorial with burial of their parents’ ashes later in the year; otherwise, no public memorial or service is planned.

Condolences can be submitted at www.BernsteinFuneralHome.com.