Pamela Maxine Swafford

Pamela Maxine Swafford (Pam), 53, of North Charleston, South Carolina, wife of Allen Salisbury, entered into eternal rest on Friday, December 20, 2024. Her Memorial Service will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025, in Saint James Anglican Church, 1101 Camp Road at 11:00am. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. West Ashley Chapel. 

Pam was born July 27, 1971, in Clinton, South Carolina, and was joyfully adopted one month later by Maxine Smith Swafford and the late Mack Swafford. Growing up in the West Ashley area, Pam graduated from Middleton High School, where she flourished as a musician playing the flute in the Marching Band and School Orchestra, while also offering her love of music as a member of the School Show Choir. 

Pam was truly a renaissance woman with a beautiful mind who was instantly likeable, easy to talk with and easy to love. Many family members and friends depended on Pam for her advice and ideas because of her ability to see through a problem and to find a solution. She was unassuming in the gifts given to her by God. One of those gifts was cooking in which she found inexpressible joy by sharing her delicious dishes with the people and communities she loved. Some of her fondest memories were attending First Baptist Church in North Charleston with her in-laws, Ed and Iris Salisbury, who adored her, and sharing her love of cooking with that community. In addition to cooking, Pam loved being with family and friends and camping.

Her circle of influence began to take significant shape after attending Trident Technical College and working in the hospitality and jewelry industries. This is when Pam would meet Allen Salisbury, the love of her life and her love at first sight. They quickly became inseparable, and not only shared life together but shared their gifts in the world of auto auctions. 

Pam and Allen successfully ran Salisbury Auto Sales, which eventually led to Pam working at Charleston Auto Auction where she helped them launch their auction site in North Charleston. This, in large part, was made possible by Pam’s expertise and knowledge in the automotive industry, a combination that rivaled most in the business, and earned her respect around the state that included a reputation for honesty, fairness, and kindness. This unique skill set was confirmed and witnessed by Elsey’s Auto Sales, Jerry Smith at Auction/Transport Towing, Auto Sales in Goose Creek, and most significantly at 4X Finders Car Dealership. 

It was in 2023 that Pam helped 4x Finders open their business, which coincided with her continued battle with liver disease and surviving cancer. A servant in good times and hard times, Pam never took her beautiful eyes, or her loving heart, off of Jesus Christ. Even in the last days leading up to Pam’s last breath on earth, during a prayer, and her first breath in heaven, she had a profound impact on the hospital chaplain, nurses, and doctors at Roper St. Francis Hospital and the Harvest Medical Clinic who cared for her so incredibly well. The family will be forever grateful for the skilled and compassionate care she received during her illness.

In addition to her husband, Allen Salisbury, Pam is survived by her mother, Maxine Swafford, and her two children, Bradon Malasky (son) and Rhiannon Stephens (daughter), her brother Mike Swafford (Lahna), four nieces, eight great-nieces and great-nephews, and a legacy of pets (especially her cat, “Baby Girl”). Pam is predeceased by her father, Mack Swafford, and grandparents.

Donations may be made in Pam’s memory to Lamb Institute, PO Box 2557, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465 or to the Charleston Animal Society, 2455 Remount Road, N. Charleston, SC 29406.