Betty Campbell Whitehurst, 91, passed away December 13, 2025 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She was a retired professor of Spanish and mission executive. Born February 15, 1934, in Merkel, Texas, she graduated from Lamesa High School and received her B.A. degree from McMurry University, Abilene, Texas. She served as a missionary in Cuba for three years, taught school in Texas for one year, and married Walter Allen Whitehurst of Virginia Beach in 1961.
She taught third grade at Plaza Elementary School during its first year of existence, while her husband was pastor of Princess Anne Plaza and Lynnhaven United Methodist Churches. In 1963 they moved to Annandale, Virginia, and in 1966 they went with their two young sons to Chile as missionaries. Their daughter was born in Chile. They returned to Virginia in 1971, and Betty taught at Rustburg High School for two years before beginning graduate studies at the University of Virginia, where she received the M.A and Ph.D. Degrees.
She taught Spanish at a number of Virginia Universities and colleges, including several years at Hollins University and the College of William and Mary, four years at the University of Richmond, and one year each at Old Dominion University, Christopher Newport University and Virginia Wesleyan University. Betty also served on the Board of Trustees at Ferrum College for a number of years.
In 1995 Betty became Associate Director of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, Southeastern Jurisdiction, based in Atlanta, Georgia, partnering with her husband Walt, who served as Director. She retired from that position in July 1999, and after retirement she and Walt served as Consultants for Individual Volunteers with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, July 1999-December 2005.
After retiring from the Individual Volunteer program, Betty and Walt wrote a book, Following God’s Call: Individual Volunteers in Mission (Abingdon Press, 2008), about the experiences of many of the volunteer missionaries they had helped recruit, train and send. Betty had previously authored a book, Vital Ministry in the Small Membership Church: Mission (Discipleship Resources, Nashville, TN 1999), and also wrote a number of articles for scholarly publications.
Betty was predeceased by her husband of over 58 years, Rev. Walter Allen Whitehurst and her sister, Carol Campbell Williams; she is survived by a son, Rev. David Allen Whitehurst of Bedford, his wife Cherie and daughters Alison Martin, her husband Alex and their children Blake and Logan, Anne Cantrell, her husband Henry and their children Levi and Clara; a son, Bruce Tracy Whitehurst of Richmond, his wife Genise and their son Carson and daughters Cameron and Caroline; a daughter, Monica Mae Whitehurst of Chesapeake; and her sister, Peggy Hooper of Johnson Creek, Wisconsin.
A memorial service will be held at Charity United Methodist Church, 4080 Charity Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA. 23457, at 11:00 a.m. on December 22, 2025 with Reverend Jay Cottman officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the church social hall.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to Charity United Methodist Church.
(Source: https://www.hollomon-brown.com/obituaries/Betty-Campbell-Whitehurst?obId=46717442)