Shades Mountain administrative assistant ends 30 years of service

Mavis Gates marked the end of an era when she retired after 30 years of service as administrative assistant to the pastor at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills.
   
Gates, who retired Dec. 31, characterizes her tenure at the Birmingham Baptist Association church in terms of both the great change she has seen and the great consistency that has marked her ministry.
   
“I started here with a Selectric typewriter (made by IBM) but I’m leaving a computer with desktop publishing,” Gates said. And yet, for all of the changes she’s witnessed at Shades Mountain, Gates has only served two senior pastors, Charles Carter and Danny Wood.
Wood said, “Mavis is such a joy to work with because she has the perfect combination of strong administrative skills and a compassionate heart.”
   
“Her philosophy is that everything that is done needs to be done right and with a standard of excellence,” he said.
   
Her management of the countless details of church office work has made Gates an integral part of a ministry that has grown in size and influence throughout her career, Wood added.
   
“It is her meticulous attention to details that makes an event move from just a good event to one that is a memorable outstanding event,” Wood continued.
   
“I have enjoyed seeing the expansion of our programs and facilities,” Gates said. “But it has been most gratifying to see people grow in their faith.
   
“It’s wonderful to think of those toddlers I knew when I first started who are now leaders in this congregation, and it’s especially nice to see them bringing their own children to church here,” she said.
   
Gates regards her involvement with the members at Shades Mountain Church as one of the greatest blessings of her work.
   
“Some of the finest people in the world are members of this church and through the years have invested their resources, prayers and time in this ministry. I’ve been privileged to know many of them. Many have gone on to be with the Lord but their footprints are still here‚” she said.
   
She plans to spend the first few months of her retirement regrouping and  enjoying a more relaxed schedule.
   
She is an active member of Shades Mountain and plans to remain so, but she hasn’t ruled out the possibility of continuing in her vocation.
   
“I’ve learned to never say never,” she mused. “I’ll just see where life leads from here.”