BEING a Pastor and having a plant shop and a nursery is quite an uphill task, but Reverend Sherril Halley isn’t fazed by the prospect of not having any days off. In fact, she is the friendliest person ever.

Halley is a resident of Voorzigtigheid, Mahaica and the owner of Plants ‘R’ Us Nursery and Plant Shop which is housed in the compound of her residence in the Methodist churchyard.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that after completing her studies overseas and when she returned to Guyana in 2018, she moved to Voorzigtigheid, Mahaica and her love for plants caused her to establish her own plant shop.

Reverend Sherrill Halley poses with some of her produce

Halley is originally from Perth, Mahaicony, and she is also a qualified agriculturist who started her plant shop in 2022.

Reverend Halley stated that she doesn’t have more plants to extend her plant shop right now because she doesn’t know how much longer she will be living in the village.

Often she would give away ornamental plants to members of the church as a form of encouragement to take care of the environment and to promote farming.

Some of her plants are also used to decorate the church for worship services.

In addition, reverend Halley also has a kitchen garden with celery, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes, boulanger, tomatoes, kale, lettuce and pak choi.

Her uncle, Rayon Bacchus is the gardener and he is the man on the ground taking care of the plant nursery and the garden.

Reverend Halley also has an apiary of bees and she would make her own homemade honey, most of which she would donate to church members and use in the home.

Speaking about her role in the church, Reverend Halley told the Pepperpot Magazine that she pastors eight churches in the Mahaica circuit which is divided into two zones with four churches in each zone.

She stated that one thing she finds herself engrossed in is funerals and in one week she had to officiate at three different funerals. This week she will be out for most of the weekdays due to the death of an uncle.

“At funerals, it is the time to be there as a pastor to show support, love and care during grief the people need that extra care,” she said.

Reverend Halley related that she never imagined she would become a Reverend but has been at it for the past five years and it is safe to say it is a true calling she fulfilled.

“It is the satisfaction for me I really like what I do ministering to the people and so far, it has been quite a journey. The joy is tremendous when people can heal mentally and spiritually and my role is to bring them comfort through the word of God,” she said.

Reverend Halley is also a lover of animals and has four adult dogs and two puppies as pets and she has an open-door policy where any of her neighbours, church members or just about anyone can walk at any time, she is willing to sit and listen.

She said the people of Voorzigtigheid Village, Mahaica are very helpful and kind, and she would interact with them as often as possible even if she has little time she will quit whatever she is doing and make time for people when needed.

The reverend also acts as a full-time counsellor and has a healthy relationship with the congregation and the community.

The mother of one and grandmother of one told the Pepperpot Magazine that being a reverend is all about devoting time to the congregation and doing God’s work, but it also entails ministering to the community.