Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

First Person: The ‘amazing’ Syble’s secret to turning 99

  • February 12, 2023
  • David L. Chancey
  • California, First Person, Georgia, Latest News
(Unsplash photo)

First Person: The ‘amazing’ Syble’s secret to turning 99

Our church member Syble Elliott turned 99 the other day. She is one year away from joining an extremely elite club. Only about one in every 5,000 people in the United States reach the century mark.

What’s the secret?

Genetics plays a major part, but these people manage stress, eat right (keeping meat consumption to a minimum), don’t smoke and exercise regularly, Boston University reports. 

Syble’s secret? “The grace of God! You’re blessed with some things and you don’t know why. You just say, ‘Thank you, Lord!’”

When asked how to describe Syble, several people immediately stated, “She’s amazing!”

Other words surfaced as people talked about Syble’s quiet but steady impact: inspiring, dedicated, resilient, faithful, humble, thoughtful, admired and beautiful.

Syble grew up in Winder, Georgia, the oldest of two children. Her father owned a small mom-and-pop grocery. Syble lost her mother when she was 8 years old, so suddenly she found herself stepping up to help with her 4-year-old brother and assist her father around the store. 

When she got tall enough to reach the gas cap on the customers’ hood, she pumped gas. 

After high school, she worked for the telephone company, running the switchboard. Glenn Clark moved to town. They met, began dating and married Nov. 1, 1942. Glenn enlisted in the Marine Corps and ended up in Oceanside, California. The military wives decided to join them, so they all piled in Syble’s Plymouth and drove across the country to surprise their husbands.

Syble and Glenn had two weeks together before his division shipped out to Japan. Syble interviewed with the telephone company there and went to work that day.

Glenn returned home and they began their post-war life, finally settling in Southwest Atlanta. They had two boys, Jerry and Ron, and nearly 41 years together before Glenn died. 

Syble pressed on and 15 years later, married Bob Elliott. Bob asked God to give them 10 years together. They had 12 before Bob died. 

Bob’s daughter Claris McDonald and Syble bonded and still talk every night. 

‘Woman of faith’

“I thought she was the loveliest lady I ever met other than my mother,” Claris said. “She’s such a woman of faith and so humble about it. I told my dad he was so fortunate because he found two wonderful women in the same lifetime. She’s a wonderful gift to me.”

Syble’s been a wonderful gift to our church family, also. She inspires because she’s so positive. 

“Every morning I wake up and thank the Lord that He allowed me to see another day, to see the beauty of the world. Whether it’s rainy or icy, it’s God’s beauty,” Syble shared.

She inspires because of her approach to life. 

“She lost her mother early on, lost two husbands, buried a son, overcame cancer, survived a hospital stay of two weeks – she’s such a fighter. She does what she needs to do and is so resilient,” Claris said. 

“I’ve learned from her, it’s not what comes in life, but how you deal with it.”

Staying active

Syble inspires because she stays active. 

“In my mind, I don’t feel like I’m 99,” Syble said, but her body reminds her she can’t do what she used to. Until last year, she still drove herself anywhere, and still mowed her lawn. She loves to work in her lovely yard. Every morning, she tackles her recumbent bike and other exercises. 

Until recently, she golfed and bowled on a regular basis. Each week she meets with three other ladies to play canasta.  You have to stay active, she believes, so get up out of that chair and move! 

Margaret Rogers, longtime children’s ministry director at our church, now retired, worked with Syble for years. She said, “Syble is an inspiration to all of us and a joy to be with. She always brings out the best in others.

“Her love for the children and parents and her dedication to serving the Lord were outstanding,” Margaret said. “I could always count on her. She helped anyway she could.”

Her son, Jerry Clark, said about his mother, “I’ve never known her to have a selfish moment, in thought or deed, even when faced with difficult times. She totally dedicated herself to others.”

“There’s something about her you admire that makes you want to be like her,” Margaret noted. “When I grow up, I want to be like Syble!”    


EDITOR’S NOTE — David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Georgia. Visit www.mcdonoughroad.org for more info or to view online worship. Visit www.davidchancey.com to see more of Chancey’s writings, including how to order his new book.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: How churches can encourage Christian fathers
    First person: How churches can encourage Christian fathers
    June 15, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: My Dad, the know-it-all — and ‘lifelong learner’
    First person: My Dad, the know-it-all — and ‘lifelong learner’
    June 14, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Churches targeted in Russian-occupied Ukraine
    Churches targeted in Russian-occupied Ukraine
    June 13, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: How churches can encourage Christian fathers

The church has many opportunities to encourage Christian fathers. Unfortunately, some fathers today did not grow up in the church or have parents who provided a Christian home.

First person: My Dad, the know-it-all — and ‘lifelong learner’

My dad is a know-it-all — in history, especially naval and American history; in politics; in random facts spanning from space exploration and “Star Wars”

Churches targeted in Russian-occupied Ukraine

Authorities in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine raided an unregistered Baptist church during a Pentecost Sunday worship service, an Oslo-based news service focused on international human rights and religious freedom reported.

Christian musician’s admission shines light on ‘double life’

Days after an investigation revealed allegations of sexual assault against Christian musician Michael Tait, the former Newsboys frontman publicly admitted to abusing cocaine and alcohol and touching men “in an unwanted sensual way.”

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel