December 8, 1999
Eula Mae Henderson
___By Amelia Bishop
___"She modeled so many qualities we look for in leadership, and became a legend in her own time because others made her so."
___This comment from a former staff member aptly describes the lengthy tenure of Eula Mae Henderson, who served Woman's Missionary Union of Texas from 1946 through
EULA MAE HENDERSON
1980, one year as state young people's secretary and then 33 years as executive director/treasurer. (The title was executive secretary/treasurer in the early years).
___She came to the state WMU office during the presidential tenure of Mrs. Earl Smyth; Mrs. R.L. (Marie) Mathis, who later became president, was executive secretary. At the close of her tenure, Texas WMU had been led by 12 presidents; she worked with eight of them.
___What made her such an effective and beloved leader for those whom she called "our wonderful Texas women"?
___Any analysis would have to mention her Bible study and prayer life--foundational to all she did.
___Coupled with that, her ongoing mission vision encompassed not only "how it was," but also "how it needed to be."
___Early in her career, that vision included Hispanics and African-Americans; others came later.
___She saw the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions as the cutting edge of state missions, and she made it an integral part of Texas Baptists life. Her commitment to River Ministry and to scholarships for ethnic and black students was unswerving.
___Additionally, as many have mentioned, she sincerely "cared about people--and it showed." She knew her people, and she kept in touch with them, writing memos to the WMU executive board, letters in response to questions and hundreds of "little notes."
___She also related well to her co-laborers in the Baptist Building because she believed in all areas of the denominational program.
___As a Sunday School worker, for example, she served for more than 30 years in a junior department of First Baptist Church in Dallas.
___And running through all of this was her enthusiasm. It was contagious.
___Certainly it is a tribute to her leadership that eight of her former staff members came to have state and national positions. Included in this group is Joy Phillips Fenner, who succeeded Eula Mae Henderson in January 1981. Fenner had been Texas GA director from 1959 to 1966.
___A number of honors came to Eula Mae Henderson, including two honorary doctorates, the Texas Baptist Elder Statesman Award and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's distinguished alumnus award.
___The chapel at the Hispanic Baptist Theological School in San Antonio is named in her honor.
___After retirement, her commitment to mission was ongoing. She and her sister, Erma Barnett of Garland, joined Mission Service Corps. Her work continued as long as her health permitted. Such was her commitment that she left a legacy to missions in her will.
___When she passed away in December of 1985, one of the long-time WMUers said simply, "I followed her because she walked the talk."
___She did.
___Amelia Bishop is a past president of Woman's Missionary Union of Texas
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