Spotlight on a Pastor: Biographical Sketch of Rev. O. D. Sykes

Rev. O. D. Sykes is the youngest of four children, born to the parents of Deacon Paul C. & Deaconess Bessie M. Sykes of Garysburg, NC. He has two brothers, one sister, nine nieces and nephews, three great nephews and two great nieces. Rev. Sykes is happily married to Mrs. Kristy D. Sykes and they are parents of one daughter, Briana. He is a graduate of Northampton County High School West in Gaston, NC and Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, VA. Rev. Sykes is a member of the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Garysburg, NC where he was licensed to preach the gospel under the pastorate of the Rev. Joseph L. Battle. He was ordained through the Neuse River Missionary Baptist Association. Rev. Sykes has been pastor of Swift Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Whitakers, NC since 2005 and Springfield Missionary Baptist Church, Littleton, NC since 2009.

Rev. O. D. Sykes’ other affiliations:

• General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina serving as:  3rd Vice
  President
• Member of the General Board
• Member of the Executive Committee
• Women’s Baptist Home & Foreign Missionary Convention Auxiliary of GBSC                           
• Neuse River Missionary Baptist Association serving as:  2nd Vice Moderator
• Executive Board Member
• Examination/Catechism Board Member
• Reedy Creek Missionary Baptist Association serving as:  1st Vice Moderator
• Examination/Catechism Board Member
• Former Director of the Educational Institute
• Tar River Ministers, Deacons, and Laymen’s
  Union
• Roanoke River Ministers, Deacons, and Laymen’s Union
• Member of NAACP
• Member of Concerned Citizens of Tillery
• Member of Halifax County Sheriff’s
  Advisory Counsel
• CCPT Prevention Work Group
• Member of the Halifax County Black Caucus
• Central Children’s Home of Oxford, NC serving as:  Board Member

Rev. Sykes favorite scripture is II Corinthians 5:1 “For we know if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (KJV) •