Tonye Briscoe retires from church staff
To Tonye, with love
People retire all the time. It’s not unusual. What is unusual is someone retiring after working 37.5 years for the same organization. When that someone is Tonye Briscoe and the organization is First Church of Tulsa, that retirement is a very big deal, indeed.
Tonye worked as an executive secretary at Sikes Carpet’s plant in Bristow before leaving to care for her children. After 11 years, Tonye decided to re-enter the workforce and joined the staff here as the secretary for Christian Ed. In her interview for the position, she was told that it was a very demanding job. When asked if she thought she could handle it her response was, “I have six kids at home, so I’m pretty sure I can.” The position had been open for three months and it was quite a tangle of backed up work. Of course, Tonye handled it all in her efficient way. In 1992, Tonye transferred to the business office and has been the facilities and benefits manager until her retirement in June 2023.
Tonye’s strong faith and positive outlook have blessed this church in multiple ways. More than one of the maintenance crew calls her “grandma,” and numerous staff members and congregants have been comforted, counseled and inspired by Tonye over the years. Even during her most difficult times, she has consistently demonstrated her complete trust in the Lord.
Tonye has many wonderful memories from her time here at First Church. She shared that once she brought a birthday “cake” to the office for our accounting manager, Steve Howe. As a prank, Tonye had frosted a Styrofoam cake and had it professionally decorated. She laughed as she remembered Steve trying and trying to cut into it until he finally realized that it was a fake. For some reason, Steve has never tried another of Tonye’s cakes since then.
Tonye will miss everyone here at First Church very much, but it is time for her to move into the next chapter of her life. Now Tonye is looking forward to devoting more time in service to her own church and spending more time with her family in Alabama, Tennessee and Nebraska. She also plans to do more gardening, quilting and sewing the many memory bears her family has requested her to make out of the shirts of loved ones who have passed away.
Tonye leaves First Church knowing that her position is in good hands with Toni Moseley, who spent a month working in tandem with Tonye for training purposes. Happy retirement, Tonye! We love you!
About the author: Kathy Wilson has been a member of First Church since joining as a confirmand in 1972 and has been on staff since 2018. One of her responsibilities is coordinating memorial services.