Betty Criswell's Obituary
Betty Marie Criswell, widow of legendary preacher and former Southern Baptist Convention President W. A. Criswell, died August 2, 2006, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas at the age of ninety-three. Her late husband, the Rev. W. A. Criswell, earned an international reputation as a preacher and champion of biblical inerrancy while building First Baptist Church of Dallas into the pre-eminent Southern Baptist congregation in the nation. Betty Criswell, who led her 9:30 a.m. Sunday School class in studies throughout the books of the Old and New Testaments, and taught as recent as July 9th, the Dallas Morning News reported. She “was a force in the church in her own right, not least by building a Sunday School class of over 500 people and broadcast on KCBI-FM (90.9) for nearly thirty years.” Among the dignitaries issuing statements, Evangelist Billy Graham, a longtime member of First Baptist in Dallas, issued a written statement: “We join in rejoicing that Betty Criswell has joined her beloved husband in heaven at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom she has served for so long. Her tremendous ministry will be greatly missed at First Baptist Church of Dallas.” She is survived by two grandsons; the Criswell’s daughter, Mabel Ann, died in 2002, as did W. A. Criswell. Services will be held at noon Tuesday, August 8, 2006, in the main sanctuary of First Baptist Church, in downtown Dallas, with Dr. Robert Jeffress officiating. Visitation will be from 5 – 8 p.m. Monday, August 7, 2006, also in the church sanctuary, under the direction of Kenneth R. Howe of Lebanon, Missouri, and the staff of Thompson’s Harveson & Cole Funeral Home of Fort Worth, Texas. Memorial gifts may be made to the W. A. and Betty Criswell Scholarship Fund in care of the Baptist Foundation of Texas, 1601 Elm Street, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75201.
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