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- Devoted wife and helpmate to the late, great, world renowned pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, went to meet the Lord and join her husband in the arms of Jesus. Mrs. Criswell passed away peacefully on August 2, 2006. Dr. and Mrs. Criswell had been married 67 years and were devoted to each other, sharing the same amount of fervor and love for the ministry. After his death in 2002, Mrs. "C" continued teaching and ministering to a Bible Class of over 300 and to a radio audience of over 25,000 on KCBI each Sunday morning. She was preceded in death by her late husband and six months later by their only daughter, Ann. Her devoted Bible Class held her up, prayed her through those difficult days and encouraged her to continue teaching. At age 93, until her recent illness, she was in her place every Sunday morning teaching the Word of God as she had done for 76 years. Betty Harris was born March 25, 1913 in Louisville, Kentucky. At age 21, Betty had already begun her church ministry as pianist and a leader of youth at Mount Washington Baptist Church, Mount Washington, Kentucky. While in seminary, Dr. Criswell was called to her church as part-time pastor. He fell in love with the beautiful pianist and so they married on Valentine's Day, 1935. Soon afterward, they headed for the west, not realizing what the Lord had in store for them. They never dreamed of such a rewarding life serving their Master together. Mrs. Criswell was a lady. She was an icon, not because she was the wife of a great preacher but because she was a guiding force to her husband and helped him become what God had anointed him to be. People enjoyed being with her. She was a wonderful storyteller and always inquired about the other person's welfare. Her class adored her. Members of First Baptist and friends about the city of Dallas cherished her company and friendship. "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her ..." Mrs. Criswell was very protective of her late husband's legacy. She gave a great deal of time encouraging the leadership of Criswell College, the fulfillment of her husband's dream to train, teach, and prepare pastors for the ministry. Remaining to carry on the Criswell legacy is her son, Cris Criswell, his wife, Rachel and their children, William Andrew, Allison Marie and Abigail Mercer; her grandson, Paul Daniel Jackson, and his children, Samuel Andrew and Cora Marie. Memorials may be given through the Baptist Foundation of Texas to the W. A. and Betty Criswell Scholarship Fund to continue and fulfill the dreams and visions of its founder, Dr. W. A. Criswell. Mrs. Criswell's funeral will be at High Noon Tuesday, August 8th, at First Baptist Church in Dallas. Entombment will follow at Hillcrest Mausoleum.
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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 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. 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: ¨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 were held at 12 noon Tuesday, August 8, 2006, in the main sanctuary of First Baptist Church, in downtown Dallas, with Dr. Robert Jeffress officiating.
Visitation was 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 and 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.
(Source: Springfield News Leader)
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1913 - 2006 (93 years)
