Alma Fay Hunt

Alma Fay Hunt served as executive secretary of WMU, SBC, from 1948 to 1974. Under her leadership the national WMU staff grew to 100 and moved into and expanded its own beautiful building in downtown Birmingham without incurring debt.

Her great contribution was to take the WMU organization as it was and move it, in an orderly manner, into the twentieth century. Miss Hunt is author of Woman's Missionary Union: History of Woman's Missionary Union, Reflections from Alma Hunt; and co-author of Leadership Legacies: Lessons for Christian Women Leaders.

Miss Hunt passed away on June 14, 2008, at the age of 98.

WMU events that occurred during the tenure of Alma Hunt:

1. The fire marshal instructed the executive secretary to remove stacks of mail and magazines from the halls of the WMU building or go to jail. (1948)
2. WMU membership was first reported at over 1 million. (1950)
3. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering^® goal first exceeded $2 million. (1950)
4. Tell and Sunbeam Activities replaced World Comrades. (1953)
5. The first issue of Nuestra Tarea, for Spanish-speaking audiences, was published. (1955)
6. A limit of tenure was first set for the national WMU president. (1957)
7. WMU transferred responsibility of Royal Ambassadors (RA) to the Brotherhood Commission. (1957)
8. WMU celebrated its Diamond (75th) Anniversary. (1963)
9. WMU first published its four "tasks." (1964)
10. "Community Missions" was renamed "Mission Action." (1967)
11. Woman's Missionary Society (WMS), Young Woman's Auxiliary (YWA), Girls' Auxiliary (GA), and Sunbeam organizations were reorganized into Baptist Women, Baptist Young Women, Acteens, Girls in Action, and Mission Friends. (1970)
12. The first National Acteens Convention was held at Glorieta. (1972)