As promised….
Spotlight
On
Billy Steen
Billy was born to Brenda (now Albinger) and Billy Steen in Greenwood, South Carolina. A child born to Brenda is going to be loved and encouraged to learn, but a child born to Brenda also has the advantage of a loving grandmother in Ms. Lou Ridgeway. Billy divided his time between his own home in Greenville and that of his grandma in Ware Shoals. Although she is now in failing health, Billy has fond memories of her at her best, singing spirituals or the popular nonsense of her day.
In the mid sixties the family moved to Charleston. Educated at Porter-Gaud, then First Baptist Church School (where his mum taught), finally graduating from Middleton High School, Billy was an outstanding student. He maintained a 4.0 average throughout his school years; his lowest grade was just ONE 'B'. One of the oft-told family stories is of Billy at age 2 ˝ reading so well that his 'party piece' was reading the 'Begats' from the Bible. Small wonder that he excelled in school.
Billy's favourite subjects were English, (he still has a great love of words and those who worked with him on the Search Committee can attest to the fact that he is an accomplished writer) and Mathematics….the latter because it is a challenge and gives him a huge feeling of accomplishment when a problem is 'defeated'. He wasn't only a 'brainiac'; he also liked sports, playing football in grade school, then soccer (before it was the 'cool' sport) in High School. He played full back on the soccer team that was so good it made it to the state playoffs. If you have heard Billy sing, you will not be surprised to learn that he sang with the Middleton Singers and the Middleton Quartet.
Gaining a National Merit Scholarship and a UGA Foundation Fellowship, Billy went to the University of Georgia, graduating with a B.S. in Zoology. After Georgia, he went to UNC-Chapel Hill on a Marine Science scholarship. It was while he was in Grad. School that hurricane Hugo hit Charleston and Billy returned home.
At the end of '89, he and a friend decided - on a whim - that it would be fun to go and work on the island of St. Thomas. With the grand total of $1450 between them ($1400 of it belonging to Billy) they set off on their island adventure. The friend became a little apprehensive because it was obvious that he would have to live at Billy's expense unless they found employment fast. Their Guardian Angel must have decided they weren't safe loose and been vigilant on their behalf because within one hour of being on the island they had found work. As you may have read in Denyse's story, Billy went to work in the Green House, tending bar and waiting tables.
As Billy talked about meeting Denyse, he laughed at himself as he remembered a 'macho moment' totally outside his normal behaviour: one evening a US Navy ship had docked and its occupants surged ashore looking for fun. The local ladies usually stayed at home when the fleet was in, but Denyse - being a first time visitor to the island - didn't know that as she sat chatting to her friends. She suddenly found herself besieged by sailors who wanted to dance with her. For the most part the sailors accepted her refusals with good grace, but one - after slightly too much to drink - persisted in annoying her. Billy leapt over the counter and marched him outside.
In 1990, Billy flew home to Charleston, then immediately left to go to New Hampshire. He tended bar and managed a restaurant in Newburyport, Mass. While living in N.H. After he and Denyse were married, they moved to Charleston where Billy went to work with his father at the tractor dealership.
While working at his dad's business, Billy began to explore the idea of a career in real estate. With his father's co-operation, he gradually eased himself into the real estate business, eventually leaving the dealership and becoming a full-time agent in January 2006. The real estate business is challenging, but it also gives him a chance to be himself, working in his own way with his own values. He is also pleased that his change of career enables him to spend more time with Denyse and their children. He loves family activities such as boating and fishing, and people on the Search Committee all knew that each Wednesday his family had a 'date' together at a little restaurant for 'Wing Night'. He talks about: pitching a tent on the dock; fishing; Blake throwing out the net and catching dinner……simple things that are very important to him. As he talked about his family, he paused then said "A crucial thing in my life is that I'm surrounded by angels…." He goes on to say that first there was his mum and grandmother, then he married another angel, and then the children were born.
The conversation moved to hobbies, Billy talked about fishing, shrimping, hunting, skydiving, jumping off things. The entire parish family must know by now that he is a Georgia football fanatic. He likes to read, Hemingway is one of his favourite authors. He likes to write, has in fact written a short story. He likes to run, and competes in the Bridge Run each year, his best time is 45:29.
When asked what being the Senior Warden has meant to him, Billy responds that he concentrates more on giving of himself, being more invested in the church. Borrowing from an upcoming programme, he defines that by saying "What can GOD do for me?" becomes "What can I do for GOD?" Billy really felt called to help lead the "Visionary Parenting" programme. He goes on to explain that the programme is not only for parents, but all people who have any kind of interaction with children.
When asked about his hopes for the future, Billy immediately responded that he would like to be as close, or closer, to Denyse. He'd like to buy a home for his family. He goes on to say that he has so many blessings in his life already, such as his marriage, his family, and - of course - his closer walk with GOD.
He speaks of his philosophy that there is a natural order of priorities: GOD, spouse, children, family, and then all other.
As always, the space runs out before the story is fully told, but I hope it gives you some insight into a fine person….who remains the man of Denyse's dreams.
**You may join the Visionary Parenting programme each Sunday morning at 9:15 in the Children's Church.