Beatrice Ames

Miss Bea Ames The Bible Lady of Dothan passed away Saturday, August 11, 2012 at her residence. She was 100.

Funeral services will be held 1 pm Friday, August 17, 2012 at Dothan Community Church with Dr. W. Charles Lewis officiating. Burial will follow in Dothan City Cemetery with Robert Byrd directing. The church will receive friends from 12-1 pm prior to the service. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Camp Victory, 363 Victory Circle, Samson, AL, 36477 or to the Dothan Community Church Children’s Building Fund, 4390 Westgate Pkwy, Dothan, AL, 36303.

Beatrice Lousia Ames was born in Schenectady, New York on November 25, 1911, to Gordon Ames of New York State and Louisa Meadows Ames of England.

Miss Bea came to Christ in 1935 through the witness of her brother-in-law and sister, Earle and Lorraine Popp. After graduating from Providence Bible Institute she began to pray that the Lord would lead her into His perfect will for her life. It was during this time that she learned that Althea Hooker and possibly Mary Lou Miller were going to Alabama to work with Children’s Bible Mission. Upon hearing that Mary Lou Miller was not sure that this was the Lord’s will for her, she prayed that if Mary Lou did not go to Alabama the Lord would put upon Althea Hooker’s heart to ask her. Althea did ask her and she moved to Alabama in 1942. Bea Ames and Althea Hooker worked together for 7 years, after which, Althea was called to go to Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham, Alabama as Dean of Women. The Lord then led Hope Wells of New York to join Miss Bea. They worked together with Children’s Bible Mission at Camp Victory until Hope’s death in 1987. Miss Bea continued to work with CMB into the21st century.

Ministering to children in Houston, Henry, Geneva and Dale counties for more than 65 years, Miss Bea became affectionately and reverently known as “the Bible lady.” Beatrice Louisa Ames never married and is survived by two nephews, Arthur Ames of St. Louis, Missouri, and Craig Ames of Lincoln, Nebraska, and a host of “spiritual children.” Having longed to be with the Lord for many years, she is now in His presence.