Helen Worthy looks back on 51 years with Volusia County

Posted On: January 11, 2024

Since joining Volusia County’s staff as a caseworker 51 years ago, Helen Worthy has seen a world of changes. She was part of the first generation that made the switch from typewriters to computers, she watched the county’s population grow from 169,000 to over 564,000, and she’s seen the resulting increase in the number of people who require assistance.

But one thing has remained the same – Worthy’s empathy and compassion for the people who come to her for help.

Worthy is now the caseworker supervisor for Volusia County’s Human Services Office, where she helps people file claims for assistance with utilities, rent, mortgage, prescriptions, dental care, and even cremation services. She also does the final review on her caseworkers’ files.

She’s the longest-serving employee in Volusia County Government’s history.

“I get so much joy from helping people,” she said. “They’ve fallen on hard times, and they need a hand up. I tell them, ‘You need to lift yourself up. Get your GED, go to trade school, and get away from bad people.’ They’ve been in a hole so long, they think they can’t get out of it, but great things can happen if you put your mind to it.”

Her favorite quote is “Never dull your shine for somebody else.” In other words, you can't control what others think about you, and there's no point holding yourself back from being who you are.

Worthy has lived in DeLand all her life, graduating from Southwestern Junior Senior High School. Inspired by her mother and aunt, both of whom were schoolteachers, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Bethune-Cookman College and a master’s degree in human services from Nova University. She’s been married to Quentin Worthy, a retired procurement director for NASA, for 36 years.

Off the clock, she’s an enthusiastic fan of Bethune-Cookman University’s football team, attending every game she can. She’s also a longtime member of the BCU Alumni Association, Bethel AME Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and the NAACP. She’s also given back to her community by serving on the board of Habitat for Humanity.

Worthy still enjoys coming to work after all these years, and her coworkers respect her for her knowledge and calming nature. She might retire later this year. Then again, she might not.