Albert Jernigan “A.J.” Swann III

Born on September 1, 1951, in Macon, Georgia.
Passed on February 16, 2026 in Melbourne, Florida

Albert Jernigan “A.J.” Swann III of St. Simons Island, Georgia, died Monday, February 16, surrounded by his family, following a tragic accident during the Florida Half-Marathon in Melbourne, Florida. A.J. was excited to be running in his 31st half-marathon on Sunday, February 8, when a driver unexpectedly crossed into the runners’ lane and struck him.

A.J. was born on September 1, 1951, in Macon, Georgia. He was the son of the late Albert Jernigan (Duck) Swann Jr. and Martha Bradford Swann. He was a graduate of Lanier High School, where he was an Eagle Scout and a three-year varsity letterman in golf and basketball. A.J. graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a member of the SAE fraternity. He lettered for three years on the Georgia Tech golf team and also played on the freshman basketball team. During his time on the Tech golf team, A.J. had the distinct pleasure of reading weekly to his longtime golf hero, Mr. Bobby Jones, during the later years of Mr. Jones’s illness.

From childhood to adulthood, A.J. treasured his years playing golf. He was a member of the Harness Golf Club, which included many childhood friends who still meet regularly to play. He also loved traveling throughout the United States, Scotland, and Ireland to play with both his father and brother, Brad, making wonderful memories along the way. Most of all, A.J. enjoyed playing golf with his two sons, Albert and Kaiser, at Walton Heath Golf Club in England, where his father was the first American to win the British Senior Amateur Championship. Throughout his golf career, A.J. made eight holes-in-one, his favorite being on hole No. 6 at Augusta National Golf Club.

A.J. always had a passion for real estate development and enjoyed his early career in construction with his father and Brad. In 2010, A.J. and Ruth founded Beacon Property Services, a commercial cleaning company that operates today in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. The quintessential “Southern gentleman,” A.J. never met a stranger, and his professional success can be credited to his genuine love of people and his natural ability to make others feel appreciated and important. He was also a devout reader, consuming nonfiction and historical biographies weekly. In fact, at the time of his death, A.J. was reading the chronological Bible for the second time.

In 2016, a spiritual and physical awakening led A.J. to become a devoted member of Wesley Church at Frederica and a committed long-distance runner. In the last 10 years, A.J. ran a total of nine marathons, 31 half-marathons, 10 10Ks, and 25 5Ks. Along the way, he cultivated numerous friendships with fellow runners. As A.J. often explained, none of this would have been possible without the unconditional love and support of his much-adored wife, Ruth.

A.J. is survived by his loving wife, Ruth Johnson Swann of St. Simons Island, Georgia, formerly of Macon, Georgia; children, Albert Jernigan Swann IV and his wife Caroline, and Lee Kaiser Swann, of Knoxville, Tennessee, Winburn Earl Stewart III and his wife Morgan of Macon, Georgia, Carolyn Stewart Morgan and her husband Chris of Athens, Georgia; brother Floyd Bradford Swann and his wife Harriet Ellis Swann of Macon, Georgia; sister Kate (Sissy) Swann Ivey of Spartanburg, South Carolina; brother-in-law Bill Poe and sister-in-law Carol Poe of St. Simons Island, Georgia; grandchildren, Elizabeth Swann of Knoxville, Tennessee, Wes and Hadley Stewart of Macon, Georgia, Henry, Eleanor, and James Morgan of Athens, Georgia; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins whom he loved and adored.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 3:00 PM at Wesley Church at Frederica, with a reception immediately following. As A.J. took great pride in dressing well — often in bright colors — the family invites attendees to dress in similar fashion. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Wesley Church at Frederica, 6520 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, Georgia 31522; Georgia Tech Athletic Association Golf Program, 150 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, Georgia 30332; or the charity of one’s choice. choice.