FORT JACKSON, S.C. - In her small hometown of Pendleton, S.C., six-year old Betty Agnew embarked on a new adventure that would eventually span many years and bring a better appreciation to one of humanities greatest gift - giving back to those most in need.
At that age, Agnew's aunt invited the aspiring singer to her first choir practice to sing at local churches and other organizations around her neighborhood; she never looked back.
Growing up in a small house on Giles Street, Agnew and her family opened their doors to the entire community located in the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From their newest neighbors to long-time family friends, Agnew said Pendleton was an amazing community to learn about the power of love.
She said her house was always full of friends from school and cousins playing games and eating snacks. Unknown to her at the time, those small moments with family and friends instilled the power of caring, respect, honor and other values similar to those she would learn when she joined the Army in 1976.
Today, Agnew is a senior chief warrant officer assigned to the 81st Regional Support Command as a military human resource technician and continues her journey helping others in need and impacting young Soldiers who surround her on a daily basis to do the same.
"Wow, I don't even know where to begin to explain how much those moments mean to me now," Agnew said after a recent lunchtime holiday choir practice at the command headquarters building here. "Just being able to experience the power of love and God at that age, really brings everything full circle in my life today."
Agnew is just a few years away from retirement and is already making plans to return to her early-childhood community and open an after-school activity center for youth.
"The Army has given me so much during my career, and now it's time to pay it forward," she said. "I have learned so much as a person, and my life experiences will hopefully be able to influence those children, and show them a better light. It's nothing big, but if I could make a difference in one child's life, it will all be worth it."
Agnew continues to develop a blueprint for a model activity center that will provide tutoring, counseling and a safe environment to meet friends, she said. But most importantly, she hopes the youth will learn those same values she learned on Giles Street.
One of Agnew's biggest joys in the Columbia area is helping organizations build new homes for families that are less fortunate.
"When they hand those shiny new set of house keys to the family, it brings tears to my eyes every time," she said about the final day of several weeks of building. "Just seeing the look on their face as their eyes say 'Thank you,' warms my heart."
After the volunteers are gone and the family is settled in their new home, Agnew doesn't stop there. She continues to ensure the family's needs are met.
"If nothing else, it's just a simple phone call to say hello," Agnew said. "Sometimes, that's all we need is to know that someone is thinking about us."
In the midst of all Agnew's giving, last year she experienced her own misfortune during a house fire during the Thanksgiving season that stole all her personal-life possessions.
Clothes, photographs, a bed and other items were gone in the fire - nothing left but memories.
In her deepest time of need, Agnew kept quiet, didn't complain and still worried about others who still had less. Most people that knew her in the Army Reserve didn't even realize the extent of her loss, but as word traveled to her family, friends and the Army Reserve community, Agnew said she was overwhelmed with joy from the response from everyone who opened their hearts to help.
"I didn't have to buy a single thing," Agnew said about her new home furnishings. "My home looks like something out of a nice magazine. It's just amazing how people helped me out last Thanksgiving when they had their own families to worry about during the holidays. Giving is such a wonderful thing. When you least expect it, we all need help at some point."
As the holiday season steamed full throttle, Agnew was again hard at work helping others in need. This year, she organized a small Army of volunteers to sing holiday carols at the Dorn Veteran Medical Center, located not far outside the gate at Fort Jackson.
With a stack of songs and her love of music, Agnew led the "Wildcat" choir through the hospital thanking the veterans and their families for their service.
As the two performances concluded and the choir returned to work, Agnew began searching for the next opportunity to help the Fort Jackson and the Columbia-area communities.
"The Army has been very good to me, and I hope I have been a role model to other Soldiers civilians," Agnew said. "You never know when you impact someone in a positive way. Giving back to your community is the best way to receive joy in your life."
Agnew said she encourages everyone to think about others in need.
"It's the Army way," she said. "It's humanity at its best."
Editor's note: "Giving Back," is a three-part series about four Army Reserve team members who spend their free time volunteering and giving back to their local communities. During this short series, the individuals recognized will be Chief Warrant Officer Betty Agnew, Master Sgt. Kenny Greene, Staff Sgt. Reinaldo Rivera and Master Sgt. (Ret.) Timothy Jordan and their extraordinary efforts within their communities.
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