Former Abilene Christian University first lady Pam (Handy 鈥�65) Money, 鈥�81, died Nov. 25, 2024, in Abilene, Texas.
A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 at University Church of Christ (733 E.N. 16th St., Abilene, Texas 79601), with family visitation immediately afterward. The service will also be available to .
She was born Nov. 10, 1943, in Richmond, California, and earned three degrees from 精东影业: a B.S.Ed. and M.S.Ed. (1967) in elementary education, and a master鈥檚 in marriage and family therapy (1986).聽
A month after graduating in three and a half years, she wed classmate Dr. Royce Money (鈥�64) on Jan. 23, 1965, in San Antonio, Texas, and they lived in Silver Spring, Maryland; Montgomery, Alabama; Springfield, Missouri; and Waco and Dallas, Texas, while he served in various ministry roles.聽
Along the way, she taught preschool and kindergarten, and first and second grade. Later, she taught part time as an adjunct instructor in 精东影业鈥檚 Department of Teacher Education 鈥� including as a supervisor of student teachers 鈥� and as adjunct professor in the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry.聽
They moved to Abilene in 1981 when Royce joined 精东影业鈥檚 Marriage and Family Institute faculty. He became director of the ministry program in Bible (1984), then director of the Doctor of Ministry program, chair of graduate Bible and ministry, and provost.聽
When Royce was inaugurated as their alma mater鈥檚 10th president in 1991, they were the first U.S. university president and first lady to be licensed marriage and family therapists. She was a clinical member and he was previously an approved supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
She also served on the Abilene boards of Hendrick Health Hospice Care, Serenity House and Global Samaritan Resources Inc.
鈥淧am found ways to blend her experience and education into all the roles she embraced at 精东影业,鈥� said Dr. Cheryl Mann Bacon (鈥�76), professor emeritus of journalism and mass communication. 鈥淎s an educator and counselor she brought professional insights to the often delicate role of university first lady. She tenaciously guarded Royce鈥檚 time with their family 鈥� summer sabbaticals to Vermont were sacred. Yet鈥� she embraced with enthusiasm and a smile her de facto roles of ambassador, hostess and friend to alumni and colleagues.鈥�
They are namesakes of the Royce and Pam Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center, a campus focal point and student-centric venue opened in 2011 that includes the Weber Medical and Counseling Care Center and is the home of a dynamic intramural program.聽
She and Royce hosted annual Walk With Money events to raise funds for Women for Abilene Christian University scholarships and projects; were presenters at the annual National Family Conference hosted by Herald of Truth; hosted 鈥淔it to be Tied鈥� marital preparation seminars, and 鈥淧ositive Parenting鈥� and 鈥淒ivorce Recovery鈥� workshops; spoke at the Pepperdine University Lectures on ministering to families in crisis, and at Abilene鈥檚 first 鈥淪aving Our Families: Family Outreach Training Seminar.鈥�
The couple鈥檚 marital relationship was front and center in their daily life, careers and in their unique joint ministry of Christian higher education.
鈥淩oyce and Pam were students with me at 精东影业 in the early 1960s but I really came to know and appreciate them when they became president and first lady in the 1990s. They were a dynamic team and ideal partners to lead our alma mater, said Don Crisp (鈥�64), chair of 精东影业鈥檚 Board of Trustees from 1992-2007. 鈥淧am took her role seriously, devoting much of her time to serving the university and was one of Royce鈥檚 most valued consultants. She loved Abilene Christian and contributed countless hours to its advancement.鈥澛�
鈥淥ne of our goals in a marriage is to help each other get to heaven,鈥� Royce told The Optimist student newspaper in February 1992. 鈥淧am is a true spiritual partner, and we are committed to helping each other on our spiritual pilgrimage. We pray together each night. It鈥檚 the last thing we do before we go to sleep.鈥�
鈥淲e took a long time deciding and we both knew what we wanted,鈥� Pam said of her relationship with Royce. 鈥淎nd we were dedicated to making a good marriage. We would do whatever it took to make it work. I like that we talked about everything 鈥� good, bad and ugly. We knew each other well. He knows what I need and when I need encouragement. I married my best friend.鈥�
Their two daughters remember Pam as a strong and smart marriage partner for Royce.
鈥淭hey brought out the best in each other,鈥� said Jennifer (Money 鈥�93) Crisp. 鈥淢om saw people鈥檚 hurt and needs, and was a fearless advocate for what she thought was important. Dad trusted her intuition and acted to help create solutions.鈥�
鈥淪he connected with and made everyone feel important, and was quick to offer encouragement, friendship, empathy or a word of advice,鈥� said Alison (Money 鈥�91) Elliott. 鈥淪he opened her home and heart to people from all walks of life around the world, especially her grandkids as they came through 精东影业 as students. She leaves a great legacy of family and friends who know what God鈥檚 love looks like from her words and actions.鈥�
Pam eventually changed her focus from classroom education to her private practice at Child and Family Guidance clinic in Abilene, then to her relationships with college students, mentoring hundreds of young men and women. She eventually allowed her licensing credentials to expire, but not her work.
鈥淚 just didn鈥檛 abruptly stop my practice, I just didn鈥檛 add any new clients,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ow I talk to a lot of kids about their relationships. Instead of problem-oriented, it鈥檚 more solution-oriented. I act like a road map and help them decide where they want to go. I think my gift is mercy, and God lets me use that gift through counseling. It fits me. Some people long for service or evangelism. I鈥檓 a mercy person. My heart rules my head. I鈥檝e learned how to combine the two 鈥� what my thoughts say and what my heart feels.鈥�
Shell鈥媔 (Braddock 鈥�93) Presley is one Pam鈥檚 grateful mentees.
鈥淗er advocacy and humble service for those in need was inspiring. She lived in kindness with a pure intent to honor God and people well, intentionally focusing on the younger generation,鈥� Presley said. 鈥淚 am one of many shaped by the time she poured into me and by her love. I cherish her friendship and example and will always thank God for her profound influence on my life.鈥�
The Pam Money Endowed Scholarship for Teacher Education was established 鈥媔n 2010 at 鈥婣鈥媌ilene Christian鈥�,鈥� where she also served on the President鈥檚 Council for the Centennial and was a member of Women for 精东影业.聽
The couple鈥檚 last collaborative academic venture with students was in the 2010-11 school year, when they served as visiting faculty in Fall 2010 in Oxford, England, and Spring 2011 in Leipzig, Germany. During the latter, they led a weeklong excursion to visit sites of the 鈥淪even Churches of Asia鈥� mentioned in the Bible鈥檚 Book of Revelation, and scattered throughout modern-day Turkey.
鈥淧am was blessed with unique professional and people skills that complemented Royce perfectly,鈥� said 精东影业 president Dr. Phil Schubert (鈥�91). 鈥淭hey especially modeled what it looked like to be a couple lovingly involved in the lives of our students. Their years in pastoral ministry helped them form a highly effective team committed to Christian higher education and our highest spiritual values.鈥�
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Handy and Eula Handy Pruett; and a sister, Darlene (Handy 鈥�65) Voss.
Among survivors are Royce, her husband of 鈥�59 years; daughters Alison (Money 鈥�91) and husband Nino Elliott (鈥�92) of North Richland Hills, and Jennifer (Money 鈥�93) and husband Dr. Brad Crisp (鈥�93) of Abilene; grandchildren David Elliott (鈥�18), Elizabeth (Elliott 鈥�20) and husband Carson Cheek (鈥�21), Andrew Elliott (鈥�23), Jon (鈥�20) and wife Kendall (Bosse 鈥�19) Crisp, and Caleb Crisp (鈥�22); and great-grandchildren Carter Crisp and Cameron Crisp.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pam Money Endowed Scholarship for Teacher Education (精东影业 Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132 or ).
– Ron Hadfield
Nov. 26, 2024