Introducing storyteller Terry Haycock: From ‘Little Princess’ to a life of service

By Gwen Woolf, guest columnist

Four years ago, Terry Haycock, a transplant from Chicago to Richmond, Virginia, figured a good way to get to know members of Virginia Professional Communicators was to volunteer to write monthly profiles on them for Galley Pruf.

Besides, she’s naturally curious and loves to hear stories, using her knowledge of poetry to get to the “gist” of those she writes about.

“People are walking story books,” she says.

As former VPC first vice president of membership, and now as secretary/treasurer, she has produced approximately 25 profiles in this space and has no plans to quit.

Terry says she’s been struck by how many interviewees have said they don’t believe themselves to be interesting subjects. She would say the same thing about herself, but her own story proves otherwise.

An eclectic path

She began college as a music major. After helping put her husband through seminary, she switched to English, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, at age 54.

“I realized I had a passion for telling others’ stories through words rather than music,” she says.

Terry describes her life’s path as “eclectic.”

“I just went where the jobs were,” she says.

For many years, she taught private piano and music theory classes to students of all ages. She also sang solos in church choirs (starting at age 9) and was married for 28 years to an Episcopalian priest, the Rev. Randall (“Father Randy”) Haycock, who is now deceased.

Terry faced the challenges of being an older mother when, at age 47, she and her husband adopted a 7-year-old girl, Jessica, who now lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband Brad, and toddler Mylo.

Wider horizons

Through the years, Terry used her strong work ethic and ability to quickly plug into new places to her advantage. She took a series of “temp” jobs, mostly for nonprofits. This allowed her to enjoy the work while avoiding the “politics” of the workplace.

Along the way, she became a kind of jack-of-all-trades, delving into many aspects of communications. These included writing news and features, editing, photography, interviewing, designing publications, organizing events, giving presentations, public relations, administrative work and, in one case, helping to move an office down the block.

She also supervised the press room and coordinated special events for trade shows across the country.

Among her jobs were coordinating arts festivals and musicales for Three Arts Club in Chicago; serving as a docent for the Chicago Symphony; and tutoring college students of many nationalities in English and business writing.

“I met a lot of people and did a lot of things I never thought I would,” she says. “Every experience I’ve had, whether positive or negative, has widened my horizons.”

Prior to moving to Virginia to be closer to family, Terry was a member of the Illinois Woman’s Press Association, where she became a friend of Cecilia Green, who is well known in NFPW circles.

Terry served as secretary and newsletter editor/writer for IWPA, earning a first place award for the IWPA newsletter in the state competition and an honorable mention at national. She served on the planning committee and attended the NFPW conference when it was held in Chicago.

An active volunteer

Terry met former VPC and NFPW President Cynthia Price at a networking event and soon blended into VPC.

Even though she hates math, Terry stepped up to accept the role of VPC treasurer (in addition to secretary) when the need arose. 

She also has a knack for making VPC events festive (with the aid of former sister-in-law Kathie), using such props as pumpkins as vases and fresh flowers in glasses as table decorations and even baking chocolate chip cookies. She’s working on a Mexican theme for the spring conference in Fredericksburg, which falls on Cinco de Mayo.

Now retired, Terry enjoys membership in the Chevy Chase, Maryland, chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Richmond Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota (VP-membership), reading mysteries, biographies and history and studying wines. She also has served as lay reader and event coordinator at her current church, St. Michael’s, in Bon Air.

She admits to having a “thing” for tigers, but settles for enjoying Kathie’s kitties, Savannah (the lover) and Bubbles (the regal one).

At just 5 feet, 1 inch, Terry stands tall when it comes to living a life of service.

“If you can do something for someone else, it lightens your load,” she says.

A positive person with an outgoing personality, Terry laughs easily and is good at small talk, able to interact with everyone from a child to an archbishop. Meet Terry at the spring conference in Fredericksburg. She’s sure to want to hear your story.