Mary Ann “Missy” Moses, 1933-2020

Mary Ann “Missy” Moses, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel among Sub-Saharan African Affinity Peoples in Zimbabwe and South Africa, died Sept. 10, 2020. She was 87.

Moses was born on Sept. 1, 1933, in Columbus, Mississippi, to the late Ruby Jackson and Jack J. Pugh Sr. She received the Bachelor of Arts in English and speech from Mississippi State College for Women (now Mississippi University for Woman), Columbus, in 1955. She then moved to Florida, where she taught English in Winter Garden and at Boone High School in Orlando. She was active at First Baptist Church of Orlando, where she met her future husband Edmond Boxley Moses Jr. Ed and Missy were married on July 1, 1961, and had three children, Joy, Mary Ann and Chip.

In 1970 Ed and Missy went to Southern Africa where they served as missionaries with the International Mission Board for 25 years. Ed was a church planter and pharmacist and Missy taught English and raised three children.

They served first in Rhodesia, where they lived at the Sanyati Baptist Hospital. In early 1978, they moved to South Africa, to minister in the independent homeland, Bophuthatswana, which was later merged back into South Africa. During their later years, they also ministered to refugees from Mozambique in South Africa and in Zimbabwe, the former Rhodesia.

After retirement, Ed and Missy were active at Downtown Baptist Church in Orlando and then at First Baptist Church of Orlando.

According to her family, Missy was known for her love for flowers. The African people called her “Mai Maruva,” which means Mrs. Flowers. She decorated for numerous weddings and in her retirement years at Westminster Towers in Orlando was also known for making flower arrangements for neighbors, those in assisted living and decorating the hallway and lobby!

Missy is survived by her husband of 59 years, Ed, and their three children, Joy M. Baxley (John), Mary Ann Moses, Chip Moses (Lori) and five grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Ruby Moran and Joyce Nolen and their husbands.

A memorial service was held Sept. 12 at Downtown Baptist Church, Orlando.

Donations in Moses’ memory may be made to the International Mission Board, 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230, or online at www.imb.org/give.

Read an obituary here.