Sheryl Seward
What brought you to Otterbein?
My mom and dad were members of Niesz church, one of the 3 churches that combined to form Otterbein. I was part of the first Youth Fellowship and I remember making many new friends and having good times in the early years of “The Church on the Hill.” I was away at college for the first few years, but after college I was married at Otterbein in July of 1968.
How long have you been a servant leader?
I was involved in the education department of Otterbein (teaching Sunday School — first 5th grade and then high school) for many years. I have also been involved in VBS almost every year since I moved back after college. The last several years I have been a teacher for 3-4 year olds, and it has been a delight! I love seeing the world through their eyes and introducing them to the Bible characters. I also love singing in the Contemporary choir. I am a member of the United Methodist Women.
Tell me about your family.
Although I am single now and live alone, I have 3 adult children. I recently moved from an 82 acre farm to a home in the village of Navarre. It is an adjustment, but I am enjoying having less to take care of. My oldest son, Jody, is married to Jamie and they have 3 girls (Abby- 13, Julia- 12, and Laura- 10) They will be moving to the farm where they have a herd of sheep. My second son, Jeff, works at the Beach City waste water treatment plant. He has 3 children (Courtney-23, a daycare teacher, Brooke-19, who works at Brewster Park, and Marty, 18 who is a senior in the construction trades class at R. G. Drage. My daughter, Julie, is married to John Roberts, an engineer with ODOT. They have 5 children and another on the way in April (Charles- 12, Clare-9, Benedict- 6, Anthony- 4, and Jude- 2) I love having the grandchildren visit.
What are your hobbies/recreational interests?
In addition to spending time with my grandchildren, I love reading, gardening, and golfing. I also enjoy the women’s Bible studies at Otterbein.
What is your favorite quote?
A favorite quote of mine is: “Enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.” I don’t know who said it, but I think it is true. Another one I had up on a poster in my classroom was: “Attitude is the mind’s paint brush; it can color any situation.” You may not be able to change your circumstances, but you can always change your attitude, and that makes all the difference.
What is your favorite scripture?
A favorite scripture I try to live by is Philippians 4:4-7. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” A pretty good model for living!
What is your proudest moment?
My proudest moments were seeing my children graduate from college. Now I enjoy watching the grandkids in their many sporting activities: swimming, soccer, softball, and basketball.
What was your childhood ambition?
As a child, I used to make my 2 sisters and the neighbor girls play school with me. More often than not, I was the teacher. I can not remember ever wanting to be anything other than a teacher. When I went to OSU, I pursued a degree in education. I taught French and language arts for 31 years. There were also some years in there when I was a learning disability tutor.