WISE Award
I, Karen Payne, have served as the chairwoman of the Recognition Committee for the past 11 years. When I started it was just the Robe of Achievement Committee, but 3 years ago another the Women In Service Everywhere award (or WISE) was added so the committee became the Recognition Committee. Serving with me on the committee are Janet Butler and Marcy Kersten. This will be our final presentation as we are stepping down to allow others the joy of serving you in this way. The Women’s Board decided not to make awards last year since there was no in person conference. We were hoping to be able to be together this year, but since that isn’t happening we will announce our choice for the two Recognition awards by video. I’ll start with the WISE award.
This year we are honoring Sharon Gaye Daily from the South East Atlanta Seventh Day Baptist Church in McDonough, GA as the recipient of the Women In Service Everywhere award. Deaconess Sharon Gaye was born and raised in Jamaica, gave her life to God at an early age and has never looked back. She is committed to her husband, family and church. Deaconess Sharon Gaye is a diligent and hardworking woman of God that shares her love of God with all. She is also a compassionate, righteous, intercessory prayer warrior.
Deaconess Sharon Gaye was nominated by her Vessel of Honor Women’s Ministry because she demonstrates on a daily basis the qualities and characteristics of a WISE woman. Her genuine smile, humbleness and love for others can be seen and felt whenever you are in her presence. The work she does within the church, the surrounding community and afar represents what one should do when professing to be a part of the kingdom of God. She goes above and beyond to assist others and is deeply and greatly appreciated.
Deaconess Sharon Gaye wears many hats and wears them well. She is the leader of the Education Department, Prayer Team, Active members and Visitors systems updating, Vacation Bible School and Senior Ministry. She works hard within the church’s pantry, which is open on Wednesdays and Sundays ensuring food pick-ups are done on time and does the pick-ups on Mondays herself. She prepares all the necessary documents, as well as greeting and interacting with those who come to the pantry. Each year she prepares the team and church areas to be used for Vacation Bible School, a spiritual learning and fun time for children, both within the church and the surrounding communities. Every Tuesday she spends the majority of the day reaching out to the elderly, which includes lunch gatherings and other fun activities. She also works alongside her husband with their Healing House Ministry in Georgia and Pastor’s Ministry in Jamaica.
Sister Daily is a precious jewel, humble, loving and a sincere woman of God. The Recognitions Committee is pleased to name Sharon Gaye Daily as the recipient of the 2021 WISE Award.
Robe of Achievement
And now for the 2021 Robe of Achievement recipient. The committee chose a woman who has served our denomination and her church for many years. She is a deaconess and Sabbath School teacher for her local church and served on the Women’s Board and General Council for the denomination. We are pleased to award the Robe of Achievement to Althea Greene Rood.
Althea served alongside her pastor husband, Dale, in Waterford, CT and Westerly, RI before moving to Dodge Center where they served until his retirement 10 years ago. They are both still active in the church serving in many capacities. Althea and Dale celebrated 53 years of marriage on June 30. They are the parents of Kristin (Mrs. Andrew Camenga) and Jeff and the grandparents of three. Althea has tried to retire from teaching Math at the neighboring high school, but her love for helping young people excel has kept her going back again and again. She also tutors and teaches ACT Prep. Her love of young people also shows in the number of camps she has counseled, years she directed and taught SCSC training, served as project director, prayer partner and hostess. But her involvement in SCSC didn’t start there; she was in the 2nd team of students that served our church in Metairie, Louisiana. I think she has participated in every aspect of SCSC that there is.
In her local church, Anchor of Hope, in Dodge Center, MN she has been a Bible Study leader, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, held various roles in the Ladies Aid, musician, member of the worship team, Missionary advocate, member of the prayer team and Women’s Retreat leader. She has also led retreats for other churches in our denomination.
On the denomination level besides serving as president of the Women’s Society from 2009 to 2014 (which included serving on CLT) she was president of the General Conference in 1991, served on General Council six years and is president of North Central Association this year. She has worked in Pre-con camps, association camps and served on numerous committees both for the denomination, Women’s Board and locally, and the list could go on and on. When does this lady sleep? I don’t think she does!
I was looking for a scripture to close with and knew that Althea really likes The Message. I have my mom, Muriel Osborn’s, copy so was looking at it to see what I could find. There was a bookmark in Proverbs 4. She loved to underline passages and this one seemed to be just what I was looking for. The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
I found another bookmark that had a quote by George MacDonald that exemplifies Althea’s life. Whatever God gives you to do, Do it as well as you can. This is the best possible preparation for what He may want you to do next.
It is with great pleasure that we award the 2021 Robe of Achievement to Althea Greene Rood.