Glennice Balch Swaim

Lee High School Assistant Librarian

Mrs. Glennice Balch Swaim died peacefully on October 15, 2025, at the age of 84. She was born April 16, 1941.

Glennice lived in rural Madison County as a child, and in Huntsville throughout her adult life. She moved to Ardmore, TN, in the last few years.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow Alden Balch and Allene Worley Balch and her elder daughter, Melissa Balch Hiley.

She is survived by her husband Ray Swaim and his daughter Donna Whetstone (Todd) of Huntsville, and their son C.J.

Glennice is also survived by her daughter, Amanda Hiley and her husband, Todd Heifner of Birmingham, and grandsons Jess Vaughan of Virginia Beach, VA; Nathan Vaughan of Huntsville, and Andy Vaughan (Cassie), of Birmingham.

She is survived by her one remaining aunt, Maynie League of Madison.

The daughter of cotton farmers, she was the first in her family to go to college, and she graduated with a degree in library science from the University of Alabama in 1963. There she met dearest lifelong friends in Sam and Nedra Wilson and Joel and Martha Brown. She was a devoted Alabama fan to the end.

She grew up with a bounty of aunts and uncles and cousins as a 6th generation Madison Countian.

Glennice was ahead of the times when she served as the organizing backbone of her father Woodrow Balch's county commission campaigns in the 1970's and 1980's. She worked as a school librarian for over 20 years at New Hope School serving K-12 students across two libraries.

In her life, she was almost never caught without a book in her hand, and she volunteered at the Huntsville Public Library for years after her retirement.

For most of her life she was an active member of First Baptist Church of Huntsville, where dear friends and the senior adult travel program were highlights of her life.

She loved travel, restaurants, books, chocolate, flowers, and the Huntsville Botanical Gardens.

Mr. Swaim plans no funeral, service or formal visitation. Her remains will be interred next to her parents at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Madison County.

May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Ardmore or Huntsville Public Library, your local library, or the Huntsville Botanical Gardens.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by AL.com (Huntsville) from Oct. 20 to Oct. 21, 2025.

This Week's AI Song

Still playing with AIsong and I asked it to write me a song about being 17. It came up with the basic idea below, and with a few edits it turned into an eerie song in a way. Although it did not turn out the way I expected, it had a compelling message that I liked in my own special way. 

Every song I come up with will not have a direct correlation to the week's subject, but perhaps you might enjoy listening anyway.

“When I Was Seventeen”

Music Created By Tommy Towery With AI Music Generator

"I'VE GROWN OLD NOW, BUT I REMEMBER"

I remember when I was seventeen,

The world was wide, and still unseen.

Late-night talks beneath the stars,

Our dreams of freedom, not of wars.

I remember when, oh, I remember when,

We were just kids, didn’t know back then.

Heartbreaks and laughter, the moments between,

I remember when I was seventeen.

The halls of school felt like a stage,

Every act was a coming-of-age.

That first love, her eyes like fire,

Every glance would lift me higher.

I remember sitting in the stands,

Cheering our team, holding hands.

I remember how she smiled after the prom,

And feeling her kiss when I walked her home

We thought the world would wait for us.

But then our love began to rust

I remember all those stupid fights,

And those rare moments we made things right.

But young hearts break, and lessons sting,

We learned the cost of everything.

She gave back my high school ring,

While life carved its own hurting sting.

Friendships were built, and some would last,

Some are just ghosts of the past.

I remember when, oh, I remember when,

We were just kids, we didn’t know back then.

Heartbreaks and laughter, the moments between,

I remember when I was seventeen.

The Wayback Machine

"Radar Men from the Moon"

 Chapter 8 - The Enem

We continue the serial this week, just like they did back in the movies during our times.

Lee Lunch Bunch

Lee High ‘64, ‘65, ‘66 Classmates

Oct. 23, 2025 @ 11:00 a.m.

Carrabba’s Restaurant

(Parkway Place Mall)

Please RSVP by Oct. 20th so the restaurant will know how many will be attending, for staffing purposes.

Patsy Hughes Oldroyd

256-431-3396

patsykeith2025@outlook.com

(Note: This is a new email address for Patsy.

 Old att.net email is no longer available.)

                            OR

Judy Fedrowisch Kincaid

256-656-3667

njkincaid@hotmail.com

I hate it, but I have a long-ago scheduled doctor's appointment, which will make me miss coming to the Lee Lunch Bunch get-together. I hope there is a good turnout and everyone enjoys themselves.

I'm almost afraid to ask it, since I am having so much fun with the AI music app, but I wonder what others think about the songs that are being generated. Should I leave them out, and just play with the music on my own? If you have an opinion, one way or the other, then please let me know.

Last Week's Questions, Answers, And Comments

Dianne Hughey, LHS ‘64, "I remember the horses "bucking" around when we got back to stables. I remember thinking I'll not get on another horse if I can just get off this one. Many years later Ronnie got a Tennessee walking horse. Her name was April and I did get back on a horse."

Jim Jones, LHS ‘67, "I enjoy you AI generated music. Thank you for sharing . I think you should continue sharing.  Thank you for the time and effort that you put in each week. I know a lot of us look forward to receiving your Traveller each week. Thank You."

Betty Jo Key, LHS ‘65, "Love the Yesteryear (song)."

Diane Campbell, LHS ‘65, "Loved being a “mountain kid”!! I have a lifetime of memories of Monte Sano!"

Robert Gentle, LHS '65, "The songs that you generated from AI have been great! It is very scary to think of what immoral or unethical things that AI is being used for. Could not listen to this weeks song for some reason. The area where the song was to be played was just solid black. Also could not find a way to respond inside the email. Have a great weekend!"

Delores McBride Kilgore, LHS '66 , "Love it!"