Women you should know from Alabama WMU history

Jessie Davis Stakely

During her term as president (1908–1920), Stakely challenged Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) members to fund a hospital for women in Laichowfu, China, to honor Kathleen Mallory. Pledges of $3,000 got the project started and the main structure was finished in 1917.

Mrs. W.H. Simpson

Elected in 1912 as Alabama WMU’s first missions study chairman, Simpson established a circulating library of missions books to support missions education throughout the state. By 1930 there were 356 books in the circulating library.

Mary Pool Marshall

Appointed in 1940 she was the first Alabama WMU administrator to be called “executive secretary.” The title was changed to “executive director” in 1984 when Beverly Miller was hired to head the organization.

Katherine Samford Smith

A leader and benefactor of Alabama WMU, Smith (president, 1957–1963) was the first woman to represent Alabama on the Foreign Mission Board (now the International Mission Board). The former Smith Camp at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega, named in her honor, was home to Girls in Action camps for 25 years.

Mary Essie Stephens

As Alabama WMU executive director (1954–1984), Stephens traveled internationally to partner with WMU women in other countries for training and fellowship, the first director to do so.

These and many more stories of the women who have guided missions education and giving in Alabama are told in “Declaring His Glory: 125 Years of Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union,” available in print and Kindle format at Amazon.com.

Women you should know from Alabama WMU history