Mary Melle “Met” Burgess Schrieffer recently accepted the South Carolina Baptist Foundation’s Lonnie H. Shull Jr. Legacy Award for her and her late husband’s (George Alan Schrieffer’s) support of the foundation through the establishment of legacy gifts.
Her husband retired in 1993 as minister of education at Spartanburg First Baptist Church. He was a chalk artist and used his creative skills in designing the iconic rice bowl that is still used for world hunger offerings in churches today.
She earned advanced degrees and became principal of an elementary school in Spartanburg. She served the educational system for a total of 19 years.
The Schrieffers’ relationship with the foundation began in 2002. Their legacy giving through the foundation will provide perpetual funding for the foundation, their church, association and local Christian ministries.
Foundation president and CEO Nathan McCarthy said, “I’m amazed at the genuine outpouring of service and love for the Lord that this family has demonstrated. What a blessing to know that the rice bowl that my children place coins in today was designed by someone with such foresight. Not only have and will those bowls impact future generations, but the legacy gifts provided by the Schrieffers will also be used to lead others to Christ until He returns to take us home.”
The Schrieffers viewed every opportunity and every place served as a mission field. As Met shared, “We are both very ordinary people, but God used us to do extraordinary things. It’s an extraordinary thing for God to use you.”
The Shull Legacy Award is given annually to a friend of the foundation who has demonstrated outstanding support of the foundation’s ministry through the establishment of legacy gifts. The award exemplifies the spirit of Shull, who served the foundation for over 36 years with “enthusiasm, passion, and a sincere love for his Lord and the foundation’s ministry.”
George and Met Schrieffer met at Stetson University and were married Dec. 22, 1953. George intended to be a businessman but, in 1955, God called him into full-time Christian service. They headed to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where George received a master’s degree in religious education in 1957.
George served as minister of education in churches in Illinois, Louisiana and Florida before being called to Spartanburg First Baptist Church in 1969. In retirement, George worked part-time for the Spartanburg County Baptist Network and also conducted travel tours.
Throughout their marriage (since 1953), the Schrieffers practiced “home hospitality,” opening their home for meals and lodging for visiting preachers, missionaries, new pastors needing temporary housing, students and others. They also enjoyed mission trips and traveling the world. Today, Met enjoys teaching Bible studies and continues to open her home when needs arise.
The Schrieffers had five children: Eddie, Jean, Carol, Amy, and Ginger. Today, there are 12 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren (and soon three more great-grandchildren).