Colleen Hicks

Administrative Assistant

Come to Gay Street UMC on a weekday, open the office door and chances are you will be greeted with a warm, sunny smile. That would be one of the signatures of Colleen Hicks, the church’s administration assistant for almost twenty years.

Fewer could be more qualified to greet and help visitors, as Colleen’s roots with the church are long and deep. Her grandparents, Walter and Virginia Ward, began attending when they first moved to Mount Vernon in 1940. Colleen’s parents were married at the church in 1951. Colleen remembers her confirmation and later her own wedding to Jeff in the same sanctuary.

The memories are many and it was fun to hear stories from Colleen’s childhood. Some were typical church memories- attending worship with her parents and two sisters, attending Sunday school, witnessing acts of kindness. Other memories reflected changes over the years. Colleen can describe with detail the building before the major remodeling and add-on in 1962. She talked about the huge Sunday school room with partitions and playing in the nursery on a wooden, rocking boat before the kitchenette replaced some of the space. (Yes, that is the same wooden boat on which today’s toddlers romp.) She watched her grandfather work the sound system that was located in the Sacristy and her grandmother work in her office as the Sunday school secretary.

Now Colleen follows in her grandmother’s footsteps, and we can watch her in her own office. No day is ever the same and Colleen enjoys the variety her job provides. Colleen deals with equipment, phone calls, visitors, and paperwork as well as being a key communicator between staff and volunteers to keep the complicated machine working smoothly.

Colleen doesn’t just think of her position as a job, however, but a mission that shows her deep faith. "I feel blessed to be where I can do what I can for [people] and hopefully share Christ’s love."

This attitude was greatly influenced by Colleen’s mother. She was a caretaker her whole life, as a mother, teacher and daycare facilitator. Colleen recalls that even when her mother was in the hospital for one of her many visits dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis, she would inquire and show concern for the doctors’ families instead of worrying about herself.

When not at work, Colleen has plenty of hobbies to keep her busy. She enjoys walking, reading, cross-stitch and singing. Many in Colleen’s family have had interests in art, both as recreation and professionally, and she has a knack for the creative as well. Colleen and Jeff used to make and sell country crafts when they lived on their pumpkin farm off of Route 3 and Colleen has recently taken up pencil drawing again. Colleen and Jeff enjoy their travels as well and hope some day to travel across southern Canada by train, stopping to explore some of Jeff’s original homeland.

But until then, we will find Colleen busy at the office, in a building that surrounds her with memories. Come on in and enjoy the smile.