“Keep God first in your life,” advised Byron Pickens. “Love people, whatever you do.”
Over the years, Byron Pickens has developed a closer relationship with the Lord and enjoys being able to serve Him. While he and his family may not have attended church as much when he was growing up, he has discovered that it has become an integral part of his life as an adult.
“Back then, we didn’t really go to church on Sunday. Every now and then, we might go to church on Sunday,” remembered Byron. “We were working. We weren’t doing anything bad. We were just out making money by helping dad. As I got older, I’m now in church every Sunday. My mom got sick with cancer, and I remember her going through what she went through. I started going to church, and I’m glad I did. Church actually helped me get through coping with my mother’s death. Just listening to God’s word every Sunday helps. I just have to go to church on Sunday now; if I don’t go to church on Sunday, I feel like I’m walking around naked during the week. I’m the president of the video ministry at Center Ridge Baptist Church in Shubuta. You have to give God some of your time. The only time I don’t go to church is if there’s an emergency at the hospital and I’m on call, or I’m on vacation.”
Along with his faith, his family has always been extremely important to him. He cherishes the memories he has with his family and understands the value of treasuring relatives while they are still alive.
“Don’t take your parents for granted because when they aren’t there, you’re going to miss them,” declared Byron. “I thank God for my dad because he taught me how to do a lot of stuff, and he taught by example. He didn’t just talk at you; he showed you. I feel like that helped because your eyes are your biggest teacher. If you see it in life and are around it every day, it sticks with you. He taught us that you have to work hard no matter what and did it through example. When I was in high school, my dad was a logger. On the weekends, we would go out there and work on Saturday and Sunday greasing equipment and all. We’d have money in our pocket, but it taught us a work ethic. Growing up with my dad and seeing him get up at 4:00 in the morning and jump in that log truck with it being dark when he leaves and comes back was all I knew. You’re a product of your environment, and I’m a product of that environment.”
Now that he’s older, he also values the wisdom that his family would pass along when he was growing up.
“When you’re younger, you take it for granted, but as I’ve gotten older, I remember sitting under a tree with my grandad and having those talks about life,” Byron reminisced. “I took it for granted, but those really are some of my fondest memories: just sitting under the tree with him talking to us and everything with his legs crossed. He knew exactly what he was talking about. Some of the stuff he was saying then relates to what we live in today. It’s not only him. It’s my older relatives that have gone, too. I wish I would’ve listened just a little bit more. I wish I would’ve indulged in that a little bit more. As I got older, I really just looked at my grandparents and wanted to make them proud.”
A strong work ethic was instilled in him, and he wanted to attain a job when he first graduated.
“I graduated from Quitman High School,” recalled Byron. “When I got out of high school, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. In my house, I had to do something. I was still helping my dad on weekends and all, so it wasn’t like I was doing nothing. During the week, I wanted a job. I said that I could always do logging and drive a truck. I ended up getting hired at a place in Enterprise. It was a factory job. I worked there for about three months. I wasn’t making a lot of money, but it was a lot of money to me at the time because I was still living at the house with my parents. I ended up getting laid off. It wasn’t a big deal to me because I had saved all my money because I didn’t have time to go blow my money.”
It was after he was laid off that another job opportunity presented itself to him. Originally, he didn’t think it would be something he would be interested in doing for a very long time, but he slowly transitioned to a position that he loves.
“Ms. Betty Bartee was working at the hospital in Quitman and was over housekeeping. They called me and wanted me to come be parttime with housekeeping,” informed Byron. “I said that I didn’t really want to mop floors but that at least it’s a job. I went there and did that for a couple of months or so. Another guy was moving up, and they ended up moving me out in the yard. I worked half maintenance and half housekeeping.”
Slowly, his part-time work morphed into a full-time position. That was when he extended his education to focus on what he enjoyed doing.
“Phil Fuller was over maintenance at the time. I helped him, and then I slowly moved over into maintenance full-time,” remembered Byron. “In the late 90s, I decided to go to MCC to learn air conditioning refrigeration. That’s what I’m certified in. I did some more training for credit hours. The main education I really have for my certification is that two-year HVAC degree from MCC. I couldn’t have picked a better deal to get a degree in because I love it. When I was working following those guys around in maintenance at the hospital, I realized that that is actually what I wanted to do. I started working at the hospital in January of 1990 at the hospital and didn’t know what I wanted to do.”
Of course, along with working in maintenance at the hospital for 34 years now, he also has his own business where he puts his certification to use.
“I have my own side business,” expressed Byron. “I do that when I get off from the hospital and on the weekends. When I got my license, I had been helping people for several years. I’ve had my own little side business for about 20 years now. I work inside and outside of Clarke County. It’s a pleasurable field to be in, and there aren’t many of us here in the county in this field. I’m the director of maintenance at the hospital at the same time. People always say that if you enjoy what you do, then it isn’t really a job. People always ask me why I go to work so much. I enjoy it. It’s hard and tough work, but I enjoy it.”
With so many years at the hospital, he has made many memories with coworkers that he has had over the years and has been able to see all the changes that have taken place at the hospital.
“I’ve been working at the hospital for 34 years, and I’ve really made a decent living working there,” proclaimed Byron. “I have no regrets working there. I’ve met some good people. I started working there when I was 19 years old, and I remember I was the youngest one there. Some of those older nurses took me under their wing and took care of me. It was sad seeing some of those people leave.”
Despite his busy schedule, he tries to make sure that he takes time out to spend with his family as well. He and his wife have some common interests, and they have things they enjoy doing in what little free time they may be able to find.
“I tend to stay very busy, but my wife helps keep me grounded on this stuff. She’ll tell me to sit down and slow down,” informed Byron. “My wife and I like to ride four wheelers together. It’s a good way to spend time with her. She likes football too, so if I say I’m about to go to a game, she’s ready. We look forward to stuff like that. She knows I don’t have a lot of free time, so we try to make the most of it when I do have free time. We might throw our fishing rods on the four-wheelers when we go for a ride and try to catch a few fish or something like that. I just try to spend the spare time I do have with the people I love.”
One of the things he really enjoys is anything involving sports.
“I love sports. I like football, basketball, and baseball. I used to go to baseball games a lot. I’d go see the Braves like once a year. People don’t realize that baseball is one of the most relaxing things to go watch with your family,” declared Byron. “I love football. My fall goals on the weekend are watch the Quitman Panthers on Friday night because that’s who I’m going to support; on Saturday, I’m going to support Alabama Crimson Tide; on Sunday, I'm going to support the Dallas Cowboys. I try to make it to at least one Alabama game in person a year. I’ve been a Tide fan ever since I was in elementary school when I used to watch Bear Bryant. I remember the bad times and good times.”
No matter what, Byron is constantly working hard doing what he loves. He is consistently a blessing to those around him with his optimistic attitude and strong work ethic. He intends to continue to help others while inspiring those around him.
If you would like to nominate someone for Person of the Week, contact Brittney Mangum at 601-776-3726.
