Alma Hunt, 98, of Roanoke, Va., who served as the executive secretary of national Woman’s Missionary Union for 26 years, died June 14. She led the national missions organization from 1948 to 1974.
Alma Hunt“Alma Hunt was an energetic and dynamic leader who helped move WMU forward, expanding its reach into Baptist churches with record growth for the cause of missions,” said Wanda Lee, executive director of national WMU. “Her efforts directly helped to shape WMU into the premier resource for missions education and involvement that it is today.”
Under Hunt’s leadership, WMU membership was first reported at more than 1.5 million as Hunt propelled WMU into the future. Several other events also marked her tenure: The first National Acteens Convention was held at Glorieta, N.M.; the first issue of Nuestra Tarea was published; the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal first exceeded $2 million; and “Community Missions” was renamed “Mission Action.”
There were also other significant renaming projects. Woman’s Missionary Society (WMS), Young Woman’s Auxiliary (YWA), Girls’ Auxiliary, and Sunbeam organizations were reorganized and renamed as Baptist Women, Baptist Young Women, Acteens, Girls in Action, and Mission Friends.
Hunt was born on Oct. 5, 1909. Her love for missions took root at First Baptist Church of Roanoke. Hunt participated in Sunbeams, Girls’ Auxiliary, and every other activity the church offered. It was there that Hunt’s understanding and fervor for the mission of God started growing.
Hunt’s work with WMU led her to 87 countries, and as volunteer consultant for women’s work overseas for the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board), she worked in 45 nations to develop women in leadership and service from 1976 until 1979. Later, she returned to her native city of Roanoke and continued to travel the nation and the globe as an advocate for missions. In all, she traveled to 93 countries.
At age 85, Hunt took her last foreign trip and decided to retire. Throughout her retirement, she was an advocate for women’s holistic involvement in missions and in the overall mission of God. She continued to speak at various churches, civic groups, and religious organizations.
“Miss Hunt was a woman deeply devoted to God and dedicated to engaging others in missions so that others could know Jesus,” said Kaye Miller, national WMU president.
Hunt graduated from State Teacher’s College in Farmville, Va. (now Longwood University) in 1941. She earned a master of arts degree at Columbia University in 1947, and was awarded an honorary doctor of humanities degree from William Jewell College. Additionally, the University of Richmond awarded her an honorary doctor of divinity degree in 1999.