Sue Nell McMillan was 28 when First Baptist Church in Mendenhall, Mississippi, hired her as church secretary in 1962. McMillan never married, never moved from her hometown—and never considered a career change.
There’s no telling how many times McMillan has spoken “First Baptist Church” into an old-school, corded, landline telephone. Her deft replies would be hard to number too. Choir practice starts at 4:00. No funeral arrangements yet. Yes, the pastor would be happy to meet with you.
During her 62-year tenure, McMillan has handled notices of illness and death. She’s known the sorrows, struggles, and failings of folks in the church. Therefore, performing her church secretary role well takes a firm foundation of godly wisdom, grace, and discretion.
McMillan waves away such talk. She maintains that holding things in confidence comes easy for a naturally quiet person. Still, 90-year-old McMillan knows she represents the old guard of church secretaries. Her younger counterparts have a new title.
“They’re ministry assistants or something, which is all right,” she says, agreeing that ministry is indeed what she does. “I try to listen. Lots of times you can’t solve their problems for them, but you can listen.”
In a church averaging more than 200 each Sunday, she knows most members’ phone numbers and birthdays and a fair number of their wedding anniversaries. According to Sheri Warren, a music secretary who shares McMillan’s office space, that effort to memorize is part of her mentor’s greatest strength: “She just loves everybody.”
McMillan, who looks like she might blow away in a strong wind, lives blocks from the church in the simple frame home where she was raised. For many years, McMillan returned home on her lunch breaks to care for her invalid mother.
Even after a triple bypass a decade ago and more recent knee surgery, McMillan moves about the church grounds with no walker or hearing aids. She still knows which key on a ring of many fits which door in what building.
Pastor James Smith, who arrived on the scene in 1967, depended on McMillan. He soon realized McMillan was devoting her life to church duties. “It was as much a calling to her as my calling to the ministry,” he acknowledges. Since the church paid for his retirement plan, he urged leaders to do the same for McMillan. They did—little knowing she’d still be working in 2024.
Of course, she doesn’t keep the same hours as she used to. She still works Monday through Friday. But no more 8-to-5—some mornings, she rolls in as late as 8:30.
by Kim Henderson in Mendenhall, Mississippi, with Kim Stegall
Why? Even a humble role performed in obedience is glorious when one is a servant of the Lord.
