Embracing a Life of Service

Through her mother and father’s example, Beth Stukes learned to pay it forward

Words by Erin Shockey | Images by Blakeney Clouse

Growing up, Beth Stukes would stand at the back of her father’s car every Sunday shoulder-to-shoulder with her brother Larry and sisters Becky and Babs. Like clockwork, their father would place a quarter in each of their hands to tithe to the church. He never gave them an assemblage of various coins but always exactly four quarters.

Her parents' commitment to giving back transcended beyond this ceremonious commitment to tithing, however. Their selfless devotion to caring for their community and giving of their time, talent, and resources to benefit others built an unshakeable legacy of service that, unknowingly at the time, Beth would carry forward fervently into the unforeseen chapters of her life.   

In high school, Beth worked at her father’s dental office in Jasper. At the time, following in Dr. Buddy Thorne’s footsteps seemed like the clear path before her, but as years passed, her evolving love and talent for teaching became undeniable. 

“Growing up, I had always worked with children,” Beth smiles. “I was at the swimming pool my whole life teaching swimming lessons and then started coaching. I knew I needed to be where students were.”

Beth set out to pursue her degree in education at Samford University. After her freshman year, she transferred to Auburn, but her plans took a detour once her second quarter grades were final. She returned to Walker County to work as a P.E. aid at T.R. Simmons School alongside her former swim team coach, Anne Trotter. 

“I loved Anne Trotter and enjoyed working with her, but after a little while of bringing home $358 a month and still putting in a full day’s work, I thought, ‘You probably should go back to school, you big dummy,’” she laughs. 

Beth finished her degree at UAB and began teaching in her father’s hometown of Cordova. Her ardor for teaching those that needed her most was what gave her job purpose.

“Some people have had, even in their youth, most of the breaks in life,” she expresses. “It’s those that haven’t that need us the most.”

For 16 years, Beth passionately served Cordova’s students. This desire to work diligently and serve those around her is what launched her into the next season of life. 

“When I left teaching, I went to work for my mother and became her girl Friday,” she smiles. “I did whatever she needed me to do.”

Beth’s mother, Barbara, traveled the state learning about foundation work, which exposed Beth to a new world of nonprofits. 

“I always knew I was supposed to be in that classroom, but I never imagined or saw this chapter of my life,” she says.

After her mother’s passing, Beth completed her mother’s term on the Board of Trustees at Samford and later served as co-chair of the Board and on the presidential search committee. She has also devoted time to Auburn University, serving on the Women’s Philanthropy Board and the Because This Is Auburn campaign. On occasion, she has lectured to classes on nonprofits and presently serves on the Auburn University Foundation Board. 

While giving back to Samford and Auburn has been fulfilling, Beth’s greatest love is having the opportunity to serve with the Walker Area Community Foundation. 

“There are very few positive things that you can find right now in our community that the Walker Area Community Foundation didn’t have a hand in,” she says.

WACF’s sole purpose is functioning as a granting body to nonprofits, but over the years, the organization has become much more than that, working to help solve complex issues such as transportation, individual wellness, and disaster relief.

“Due to our history, what we've accomplished, and the many things we’ve learned, we are able to look at complex issues and say, ‘We can take that on!’” Beth explains. 

Beth attributes the Foundation’s accomplishments to those who have served beside her. The staff is a powerhouse group of listeners, conveners, networkers, and go-getters who are well-respected in their various professions. 

“Our Foundation is so good at fulfilling the mission,” Beth says. “The Foundation is secular, but we are so fortunate that our staff members have such great hearts for ministry.”

Beth has served as the Foundation’s chairperson, on the president's cabinet, and will soon begin her second expansion of being a board member. 

Her life of service has led her to become an ‘embracer of life’ as she strives to embrace every moment with open arms. For Beth, service has become more than what she does, rather, it is part of who she is. 78