Barbara Woodyard, 84, of Leroy has had various responsibilities in church through the years. She has been clerk, Sunday School secretary, hostess, Vacation Bible School volunteer and choir member. But the post for which her church recently honored her was church secretary, a role she served in for 37 years. The alumna of Massey-Draughon Business College in Montgomery said her mission is “to be of help and use wherever I’m needed.”
Ministry description: Helper
Church: First Baptist, Leroy, Washington Baptist Association
Life Verse: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
Q: What is the focus of your greatest ministry efforts?
A: My efforts revolve around serving my church and my church family. I just recently retired from being church secretary since the 1980s. I served under pastors Dr. James Nichols, Rev. A.L. McGill, Rev. James Watkins and now Rev. Ben Posey. I’ve always been active in church from a very early age, and still sing in the choir. I taught Sunday School for children and served as church hostess for years, helping decorate for all seasons. I served in Bible school and as church clerk for years. I served where there was a need and made myself available.
Q: What was a “turning point” in your life and how was God involved?
A: I know that God has been involved in my life from an early age. One specific time I felt His protective hand was in March of 1984. My husband was at the church for a Brotherhood cookout and my son, Will, and I were at home (he was 11). The sky grew dark and the wind began to blow so hard that the metal roof on our house started making a big noise. We got into a small clothes closet and shut the door, and I held onto Will and started praying. It felt like we were going to be blown away (but) after what seemed like an eternity, I was able to pry open the closet door. It was dark, but I was able to find a flashlight. The huge oak tree in front of our yard blew onto the house. One of the limbs came straight through the roof, down in front of the closet door about a foot from where we were. We feel like God protected us during the storm. God also provided a place for us to stay afterward — our church had bought property with a house on it. The deacons met and approved for us to live there. The day after the storm, our church family and community friends helped salvage what we could from our home and move into the other house. We lived there two years while we built a new house. We will always be thankful to God and to First Baptist Church, Leroy, for what they did for us.
Q: What has God been teaching you lately?
A: God is good all the time, and He is still in the miracle business. My husband’s health has deteriorated over the last year. He was to the point that he could not stand up on his own. My family doctor diagnosed him with normal pressure hydrocephalus (which) was confirmed with other testing. After a shunt was put in, treatment and therapy, he is now practically back to normal. It is just a miracle.
Q: Have you read a book or heard a song that changed the way you think about God and faith?
A: One of my favorite songs is “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” — “I sing because I’m happy/I sing because I’m free/For His eye is on the sparrow/And I know He watches me.” I know He watched over me when the tornado came through.
Q: Does your church have any special traditions that mean a lot to you?
A: We have four children — three girls and a boy. My oldest and youngest daughters are musicians. Each Christmas (except during the pandemic), the church features them in a musical concert, featuring dual pianos, the organ and a flute. Georgiann is the oldest and plays piano; Amanda plays the organ and flute. People from other churches and other areas are invited, and it is a well-attended event everyone enjoys. After the concert, everyone is invited to stay for a fantastic reception with food provided by the ladies of our church. (Our middle daughter Terrilynn has sung in the choir since she was a child and continues to do so. She has also taught in children’s Sunday School. When our son was young, he sang in the choir and was involved in youth activities. He and his family live in Citronelle and attend church there.)
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