Laura Dell Malotte Armstrong

Laura Dell Malotte Armstrong was the first WMU, SBC, president from west of the Mississippi, provided solid leadership during the era of the Great Depression and financial crisis in the Southern Baptist Convention, from 1933 to 1945. One of her presidential duties involved the Woman's Missionary Union Training School in Louisville, Kentucky. As chairman of the institution's trustees, she guided WMU to buy property adjoining the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary campus to build an impressive new building.

She was one of two women elected in 1927 to serve on the Executive Committee of the SBC -the first time women ever served on this committee-serving for 18 years. Death overtook her while she was still busy as WMU president.