Doing the “Heart” Work

Decades of service to children betters community

Story by Leah Barbour

It all started back in 1966, when former 4-H’er Ruby Beckley decided to become a 4-H volunteer leader. During her own days in 4-H, she won corn-growing competitions, and she knew, even though she wasn’t a mother yet, she needed to share her talents with the next generation.

Beckley’s goals were simple: motivate children, teach them to do their best, and ensure they have the life skills needed to become successful adults.

So, Beckley went to the Lee County office of the Mississippi State University

Extension Service. From there, she helped organize the county’s first 4-H group: the Starlight Club. 4-H’ers from the rural community of Shannon learned to sew, cook, and garden, but, even more importantly, they learned how to serve others.

Fast-forward 53 years, and Beckley is working with a group of Cloverbuds, aged 5 to 7, and teaching them life skills. She even continues to recruit new volunteers.

Beckley’s service and leadership are making a difference.

“Parents are working and don’t see everything the kids are doing,” she continues. “It takes volunteers to get your children motivated in something that’s going to help them in life.”

Helping children to become good citizens is one of Beckley’s greatest accomplishments, and she’s just as passionate about it today as she was in the 1960s.

“I’ve always wanted to help the children, even at school. I volunteer for 4-H, and I volunteer in the school. People say, ‘You’ve gotten that old, and you still love it?’ and I say, ‘Yeah,’” Beckley laughs. “That’s my job: to motivate and help. That’s what God wants all of us to do.”

Over the years, Beckley has partnered with numerous Extension agents and program assistants. She has worked with Brandon Alberson, the current agent in Lee County, during the past 3 years, and she remembers Shelton Shannon, former Extension program associate, and Sherry Smith, former director of the Extension office in Lee County, as being significant motivators and partners.

“Shelton stood out! He taught us, whatever was going on, whatever we needed to know. And Sherry did, too. There were some good agents back in the day. And we’d work together, all for the children. It was all for the children,” Beckley affirms.

When she marked her 50th year of service to 4-H’ers, personnel in the Lee County office, along with leaders of the Mississippi Volunteer Leaders Association, the statewide organization that oversees 4-H volunteers, organized a special recognition ceremony.

“This place was packed,” Beckley explains. “I got rich that day. My 4-H’ers sent me so many cards and flowers and money. That was a grand day, praise God. Thank God that I have been an impact on somebody, that I could show somebody that they want to be like me.

“We’ve got to show these young people that they can look up to us.”