Join us as we celebrate Black History Month in February and Bold Women’s Day during Women’s History Month in March. Follow this blog every Monday as we reflect on bold women of faith—women whose collective voices continue to change the lives of women and girls every day!
by Valora K Starr
Mary Jane McLeod was born July 10, 1875, in Mayesville, South Carolina, twelve years after slavery. She started school and learned to read at age 10. Her parents, Sam and Patsy, and her maternal grandmother said daily that freedom was not free, and there were two valuable things she could possess and no one could take from her: her faith and education.
She once said, “Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service. Without it, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible” and Mary’s goal was to teach as a missionary in Africa after graduating from Scotia Seminary for Negro Girls in 1893. She was denied because Black people could not serve as missionaries—a policy held by most Christian denominations. Disappointed, she went to Moody Bible Institute in 1895. She began a teaching job and met her future husband, Albertus Bethune, at choir practice.
Around 1904, she opened an academic school for five girls and her son, Albert. That school later became known as Bethune-Cookman College.
Mary was appointed as a national adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of what was known as his Black Cabinet and “The First Lady of the Struggle” because of her commitment to gain better lives for African Americans.
She was a resilient leader, educator, stateswoman, philanthropist, humanitarian, civil rights activist, and womanist who always advocated for justice for women and children. Columnist Louis E. Martin, upon her death in May 1955, described McLeod this way: “She gave out faith and hope as if they were pills and she some sort of doctor.”
How resilient is your faith muscle?
Additional sources:
Jackson, Tricia Williams. “Mary McLeod Bethune.” Women in Black History. Revell Publishing Group, 2016, pp.75-87.
The Great Truth of Simple Truths | Fort Hill United Methodist Church.
Valora K Starr is director for discipleship for Women of the ELCA.
Photo of Mary McLeod Bethune. Used with permission.
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Love the question at the end of this piece – “How resilient is your faith muscle?” It calls for reflection, re-examination and perhaps refocus …
Yhank you for these stories of faith and action. They are encouraging in these difficult days