Gift Annuities and a Widow’s Mite
“Truly I say to you, this woman has put in more than all of them; for they contributed out of their abundance, but she put in everything that she had.” (Mark 12: 43-44)
She is an engaging and gracious individual whose energy belies her years. One step into her immaculately kept home adorned with family photographs, mementos and a manicured garden out back and you will instantly know that you are in the presence of a Christian lady!
Born some eighty-seven years ago in the Great Smoky Mountains near Rainbow Springs, North Carolina, Pauline Pickett learned early in life the importance of faith and family. Raised as one of six children in a Christian home, Pauline fondly recalls the model of Christian stewardship entrusted to her by her parents. “My mother taught me to tithe. She sold eggs and gave the money to the church. The visiting preachers to our little mountain church always stayed with our family. My father was a locomotive engineer and known throughout our community as a generous man. I thank God for my parents.”
In May 1939 Pauline married Wilbur W. (Bill) Pickett. Their marriage produced two children (Neil and Carolyn), four grandchildren and soon-to-be six great-grandchildren. Together the Pickett’s served churches in Maryland and in Virginia before Bill’s retirement in 1974 as Pastor of the Langley Baptist Church. Ever the industrious one herself, Pauline’s working career as an elementary school teacher spanned some twelve years in southwest Virginia and twenty-eight years in the City of Hampton Public School System. Today Pauline is actively involved in her church teaching Sunday School, the ministries of the Woman’s Missionary Union and raising funds to combat world hunger. Since 1992 her weekly place of service has been through the jail ministries of her church at the Newport News City Jail. “A friend of mine had the job and was going to give it up and it made me sad. So I did it!”
Though Pauline Pickett has charitable gift annuities though several other organizations, she contacted the Virginia Baptist Foundation to learn more about our charitable gift annuity program. “I saw an insert on the table at church and I notified the Foundation. I have now established four charitable gift annuities through the Foundation whose charitable beneficiaries include two Virginia Baptist educational institutions as well as a Virginia Baptist agency. I have established these gift annuities because I am able to assist Christian causes that are important to me as well as provide an income for myself.” Pausing to reflect for a moment, Pauline Pickett leaned forward and said, “Financial stewardship is very important to me and I am very careful where I put my money.”