Betty Sanders Gordon

Bluefield, WV- Betty Sanders Gordon, 87, of Bluefield, WV entered Heaven on Saturday, December 5th. Betty was born in 1928 in Fairfax, SC to the late Cleo Herman Sanders and Fannie Wilson Sanders. She was a resident of Bluefield since 1962, and a dedicated member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her son, William Dudley Gordon, and is survived by her husband Dr. Will G. Gordon of Bluefield, and son Mark W. Gordon and his wife Wendy M. Gordon of Cocoa Beach, Florida, and granddaughters Hannah Gordon of San Francisco, CA and Abigail Gordon of Louisville, KY. Betty lived a full and rewarding life, much of it committed to serving her Christian faith in support of the United Methodist Church. She was an active and recognizable delegate at the West Virginia Annual Conference for decades, presenting a strong voice on many issues and serving on many committees. She was conference vice-president of the Women’s Society of Christian Service (1972-73) and United Methodist Women (1973-76) and conference president (1977-80) of the United Methodist Women. She was elected to the General Board of Global Ministries, Women’s Division, as a director in 1980, and reelected in 1984. Betty was assigned to the World Division and Mission Personnel Resource Program Department, 1984-88. She was elected vice-president of the Women’s Division from 1984-88. She was a delegate to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 1976 and Jurisdictional and General Conferences, 1980 and 1984. At General Conference, she was chairperson of the Legislative Committee on Local Church. Betty served on the Northeastern Jurisdiction Core Planning Group of the United Methodist Women. She was a delegate to the Decade of Women Conference in Kenya, Africa in 1985. In the 90’s, Betty served on the national level as a director of the Women’s Division under the General Board of Global Ministries, supporting programs, mission institutions, and ministries in the United States and around the world. She later served on the Board of Global Ministries in New York City, as director, consultant and interim Associate General Secretary of the Mission Personnel Resources Program department. Betty wrote “Strangers…Immigrants…Angels Unawares?” for the 1984 program resource book for United Methodist Women, Committed to Mission Tomorrow. As part of Women’s Division update in Response Magazine, she wrote “Women’s Vote Can Determine Outcomes,” in October 1984 issue, and she was co-author of “Women’s Peace Pilgrimage to Honduras,” in the February 1984 issue. Betty also wrote “World Federation of Methodist Women, A Call” in the September 1985 Response. Betty attended Winthrop College in South Carolina, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bluefield State College. Betty has done additional studies at Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland. She has been involved in educational events in Africa, Japan, Asia, Philippines, Europe, the Caribbean and South America experiencing various cultures with emphasis on human rights. With all the experiences in West Virginia, the United States and throughout the world, she continued to work as a project consultant in support of the United Methodist Church. Betty was an advocate and champion for human rights, especially pertaining to children and women, and to the AIDS Ministries. She was instrumental in the first display of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt in West Virginia in 1993. Betty left this world a better place than she had found it, living by her convictions and uplifting, encouraging, strengthening and loving all those she encountered! She especially treasured her role as “Grandmommy.” Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 8th at the Mercer Funeral Home from 6-8 pm, and services on Wednesday, December 9th at Trinity United Methodist Church at 11am, with a reception to follow. As this will be a celebration of Betty’s life, BRIGHT COLORS ARE ENCOURAGED! In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 401 College Avenue, Bluefield, WV 24701. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Mrs. Betty Sanders Gordon.

Betty Sanders Gordon

December 1, 1928 - December 5, 2015