Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Hueytown
Bessemer Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 33:3
Favorite Hymn: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Hobbies: Reading and traveling
Family Status: Widow for six years after 58 years of marriage to husband, Floyd; daughter, the late Vicki Stegall; son, Randy Syx; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild
For 69 years Helen Syx, 80, has been a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Hueytown. She was an employee there for 54 years, serving 43 years as financial and pastor’s secretary. Now she volunteers in the office three days a week. So it is no wonder that her husband and she were deemed “Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant Ridge” in 2007 by their church. She laughed as she said she has served on possibly every committee in her church. Currently she is a member of four of them (cemetery, finance, history and committee on committees), the senior adult choir and the Woman’s Missionary Union, is assistant Sunday School teacher and associate treasurer. Formerly she was a church trustee and is past president of Alabama Association of Baptist Secretaries. In her community she is a poll worker, member of the Chamber of Commerce and Hueytown Historical Society, past president of Hueytown Study Club and has been recognized by the City of Hueytown.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: One of our Sunday School teachers when I was 11 years (old). His name was Fred Jordan. He led me to the Lord. He went on to be a preacher. He has passed away.
Q: When and how were you led into your ministry work?
A: We had a secretary (at the church). I came by here and she needed help. I was a real good typist. I started doing our newsletter once a week for five years. Then I was hired on permanently.
Q: What does your ministry work demand?
A: It demands that I answer the phone, help people, keep up with membership, whatever they need me to do. You never know what you’re going to do from one day to the next.
Q: What do you get from your ministry work?
A: Satisfaction, the feeling that I am doing something to help somebody.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: They’re wonderful. They’ve never had any problem with it. I’ve got three sisters and two brothers [who] are members here. I’ve got a brother-in-law and sister on staff here.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: As long as I’m able to get around. It gives me something to do besides sit at home. I couldn’t sit at home because I’ve been active too many years.
Q: What difference will this ministry work make for you in the future?
A: As long as I can, I want to be able to do it.
Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: All the difference in the world. It has been wonderful.
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