DALLAS — Bessie “Betty” Marie Criswell, widow of legendary preacher and former Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President W.A. Criswell, died Aug. 2 at the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas at the age of 93.
The cause of death was a respiratory illness, according to The Dallas Morning News, which described Betty Criswell as “a local legend herself, staunchly supporting her husband and teaching a Sunday School class that KCBI-FM (90.9) aired for nearly 30 years.”
The Web site of First Baptist Church, Dallas, stated: “Mrs. W.A. (Betty) Criswell — ‘Mrs. C’ as she was affectionately called — taught the Bible for over 70 years, most of those here at First Baptist Church of Dallas. She devoted herself to Dr. Criswell’s gospel ministry during his life, and after his death continued to preserve his legacy through First Baptist Church and The Criswell College.”
Betty Criswell came to Dallas in 1944 when her husband became First, Dallas’, pastor. W.A. Criswell, a key figure in the SBC’s conservative resurgence and its emphasis on biblical inerrancy, was named pastor emeritus in 1995; he died in 2002 at the age of 92.
Betty Criswell, who led her Sunday School class in studies throughout the books of the Old and New Testament, last taught on July 9, The Dallas Morning News reported.
She is survived by two grandsons; the Criswells’ daughter died in 2002.
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